Bill · H.R. 6639· House(119-HR-6639)
Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act
- Introduced
- 12/11/2025
- Last activity
- 12/11/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Adam Gray
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Water Agency and Transparency Enhancement Review (WATER) Act," aims to codify parts of Executive Order 14181. It focuses on emergency water resource measures in California and improving disaster response. The legislation directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce to identify major water-supply and storage projects in California. These officials must designate compliance officials to coordinate responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. Finally, these officials are tasked with identifying and proposing plans to address regulatory hurdles that may unnecessarily burden water projects.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would farmers be better off under this?+6
The bill directly addresses the expansion and efficiency of water supply and storage, which is critical for agricultural productivity.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+5
Improving water-supply projects directly benefits the water security of rural California residents.
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?+5
The bill's focus on water resource management serves as an emergency measure to improve disaster response capabilities related to water scarcity.
The opposite
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-3
The bill directs officials to rescind or suspend regulations that may be necessary for environmental protections if they are deemed an undue burden.
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?-1
While focused on water, the streamlining of large infrastructure projects can impact overall infrastructure development efficiency.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Identification of Water Projects: The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce will identify all ongoing or potential major water-supply and storage projects in California, which includes surface and ground water storage, aquifer recharge, and State conveyance projects (Section 2(a)).
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Streamlining Regulatory Processes: Designated officials will identify regulatory hurdles and propose plans to suspend, revise, or rescind regulations that unduly burden projects but are not necessary to protect the public interest (Section 2(b)(2)(C)).
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Improved Efficiency: The designated officials are required to coordinate and share information to enable improved efficiencies regarding water projects (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Reduction of Economic Obstacles: The bill seeks to address "undue burdens," which are defined as things that unnecessarily obstruct, delay, curtail, impede, or impose significant costs on the supply of water and infrastructure (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Farmers+6Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Business Owners+4Good For Low Income Households+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Improves Small Business Support+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+5Improves Rural Development+4Improves Environmental Protections-3Improves Roads And Bridges-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+2
- 12/11/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Jim CostaDemocrat · California