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H.R. 331Passed House

To amend the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to clarify a provision relating to conveyances for aquifer recharge purposes.

Introduced: Jan 13, 2025

Latest action date: May 14, 2025

Latest development

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

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Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Jan 13, 2025
Recorded roll calls
0

Status detail: The full action history records passage in the House.

Plain-language overview

What this bill does

This bill modifies the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act to expand provisions concerning authorizations (e.g., rights-of-way) to transport water across public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for aquifer recharge purposes.

Under the Aquifer Recharge Flexibility Act, the holder of existing rights-of-way, easements, permits, or other authorizations to transport water across BLM land may transport the water for aquifer recharge purposes without additional authorization from the Department of the Interior so long as the use does not expand or modify the operation of such authorizations across public land.

The bill allows the holders of such authorizations to act not only on behalf of themselves, but also on behalf of states, Indian Tribes, or public entities, to use the existing authorizations for aquifer recharge without additional authorization from the Department of the Interior. Further, the bill states that this use may not be considered an expansion, modification, major federal action, or substantial deviation.

Additionally, the bill exempts holders from paying additional rents to the BLM for any use of such authorizations; however, the exemption does not apply to for-profit uses of aquifer recharge or for-profit entities. 

Finally, holders of rights-of-way or other authorizations must provide notice to the BLM of the intended use of authorization as specified by the bill.

Official summary from Congress.gov.

Civixly topics

What this legislation is about

Civixly topics make federal and state legislation comparable. They are derived from the official CRS policy area and legislative subjects.

Official CRS policy area

Water Resources Development

View 2 official legislative subjects
Land use and conservationWater use and supply

Committee activity

Committees and subcommittees that received, reviewed, marked up, or reported this legislation.

houseStanding

Natural Resources Committee

Official committee record ↗
  1. Referred To
  2. Discharged from
  3. Markup By
  4. Reported By
houseSubcommittee

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

Official committee record ↗
  1. Referred to
  2. Hearings By (subcommittee)

Amendments

Proposed changes to this measure, with their latest official outcome or action from Congress.gov.

No amendments are listed for this measure.

Checked against Congress.gov Sep 29, 2026.

Action timeline

Newest action first. Action language comes from the official Congress.gov record.

View full action timeline18 actions
  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

    IntroReferralSenate
  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    FloorHouse floor actions
  3. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1969)

    FloorHouse floor actions
  4. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1969)

    FloorLibrary of Congress
  5. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 331.

    FloorHouse floor actions
  6. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1969-1970)

    FloorHouse floor actions
  7. Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    FloorHouse floor actions
  8. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-60.

    CommitteeHouse floor actions
  9. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 37.

    CalendarsHouse floor actions
  10. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-60.

    CommitteeLibrary of Congress
  11. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

    CommitteeHouse committee actions
  12. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    CommitteeHouse committee actions
  13. Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Discharged

    CommitteeHouse committee actions
  14. Subcommittee Hearings Held

    CommitteeHouse committee actions
  15. Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.

    CommitteeHouse committee actions
  16. Introduced in House

    IntroReferralLibrary of Congress
  17. Introduced in House

    IntroReferralLibrary of Congress
  18. Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

    IntroReferralHouse floor actions

Roll-call votes

Recorded House and Senate votes connected to this bill. Your representatives appear first when available.

No connected roll-call votes are currently available for this bill.

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Sources: Congress.gov and official House and Senate vote records.

View data freshness details

Base metadata check pending · Civixly summary check pending · Action timeline checked Sep 29, 2026 · Complete sponsorship check pending · Topics checked Sep 29, 2026 · Committees checked Sep 29, 2026 · Status checked Sep 29, 2026 · Related bills checked Sep 29, 2026.