Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to modify eligibility for grants under section 40903, defining eligible water storage projects and capacity thresholds (200–30,000 acre-feet general capacity; 200–150,000 acre-feet average annual life capacity). Eligible projects explicitly include projects that increase surface or groundwater storage, recharge or recover groundwater, convey water to or from storage, and stabilize groundwater levels.
Liberals emphasize environmental safeguards and equity requirements.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a targeted statutory amendment that reasonably specifies eligibility thresholds and includes limited statutory safeguards, but it lacks fiscal, implementation, and accountability detail necessary to fully operationalize the change within the statute as presented.
Amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to modify eligibility for grants under section 40903, defining eligible water storage projects and capacity thresholds (200–30,000 acre-feet general capacity; 200–150,000 acre-feet average annual life capacity).
Eligible projects explicitly include projects that increase surface or groundwater storage, recharge or recover groundwater, convey water to or from storage, and stabilize groundwater levels.
The bill also amends section 40903(e) (replacement text not provided in bill text) and adds statutory construction language preserving State and Federal water law, interstate compacts, treaties, and existing water rights, and prohibiting Federal acquisition of water.
Technically modest, broadly palatable amendment that could pass if paired with funding; standalone enactment depends on legislative vehicle and appropriators.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a targeted statutory amendment that reasonably specifies eligibility thresholds and includes limited statutory safeguards, but it lacks fiscal, implementation, and accountability detail necessary to fully operationalize the change within the statute as presented.
Liberals emphasize environmental safeguards and equity requirements.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberals emphasize environmental safeguards and equity requirements.
Likely cautiously supportive because the bill explicitly expands support for groundwater recharge and storage, which can advance climate resilience and protect communities.
Concerns would focus on environmental safeguards, equitable allocation, and preventing projects that harm ecosystems or disadvantaged communities.
Generally supportive as a pragmatic refinement of IIJA grant eligibility to bolster water storage and recharge capacity, while noting the need for clear implementation, cost controls, and coordination with States.
Would want measurable outcomes and oversight.
Mixed to skeptical: supports local water infrastructure and protections for State water law, but wary of additional federal grant programs expanding bureaucracy, inducing federal involvement in water allocation, and subsidizing projects that should be state/local responsibilities.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Technically modest, broadly palatable amendment that could pass if paired with funding; standalone enactment depends on legislative vehicle and appropriators.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberals emphasize environmental safeguards and equity requirements.
Technically modest, broadly palatable amendment that could pass if paired with funding; standalone enactment depends on legislative vehicle…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a targeted statutory amendment that reasonably specifies eligibility thresholds and includes limited statutory safeguards, but it lacks fiscal, implementation, and…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.