Bill · S. 228· Senate(119-S-228)
Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act
- Introduced
- 1/23/2025
- Last activity
- 1/23/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- Sponsored by
- Ben Luján
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Acequia Communities Empowered by Qualifying Upgrades for Infrastructure Act," aims to amend the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. It seeks to ensure that producers relying on acequia systems have access to drought protections. The legislation updates assistance rules for producers facing losses related to drought. Additionally, it removes the requirement for special use permits for certain routine maintenance and minor improvements on Federal land. Finally, it requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress regarding producers relying on these systems.
Yes· 3 of 12
Would farmers be better off under this?+5
The bill provides direct drought assistance and removes the need for special use permits for routine maintenance on federal land.
Does this invest in rural communities?+4
The bill streamlines infrastructure maintenance and provides drought protection for rural agricultural communities using acequias.
Would business owners be better off under this?+3
The bill reduces administrative burdens for maintaining irrigation infrastructure and provides drought risk mitigation.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Drought Protection: Producers who rely on acequia systems will be able to receive assistance for all losses suffered as a result of specific causes, such as drought, under the noninsured crop disaster assistance program (Section 3).
-
Easier Infrastructure Upkeep: Community users or governing bodies of an acequia will not be required to obtain a special use permit for routine maintenance, such as cleaning, repairing, or replacing infrastructure, or annual ditch cleaning on Federal land (Section 4).
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Preservation of Traditional Activities: The bill allows for traditional activities that preserve the state of the acequia to be conducted without a special use permit, provided there is a written agreement with the Secretary concerned (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Requirement for Written Agreements: To perform traditional activities that preserve the acequia without a special use permit, the governing body must reach a written agreement with the Secretary concerned (Section 4).
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+5Good For Business Owners+3Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Middle Class Households+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4Improves Environmental Protections+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+2Increases Job Creation+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- 1/23/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
John CornynRepublican · Texas