Sponsors (2)
The bill increases transparency, predictability, and formal participation for water contractors—helping users plan and reducing definitional disputes—while risking slower, costlier agency processes and reduced flexibility to protect species and preserve environmental interests.
Federal water contractors, irrigation districts, farmers, utilities, and rural communities gain clearer roles and repeated opportunities to review and provide data during ESA section 7 consultations, reducing ambiguity about participation and who is covered.
Contractors receive schedules, explanations, and written legal/scientific bases for biological assessments and draft biological opinions (including actions that would reduce contracted water deliveries), improving accountability and helping businesses and local governments plan for water deliveries.
Explicit cross-references and clearer statutory definitions reduce definitional disputes among federal agencies, which can streamline certain consultation debates and make planning more predictable for project managers.
Narrower statutory definitions and giving formal status to contractors could constrain agency discretion and privilege water users' input, reducing flexibility to pursue conservation measures and diminishing the influence of environmental stakeholders.
Added procedural requirements for consultation, review, and documentation may slow agency decision timelines and increase administrative costs, with those costs ultimately borne by taxpayers.
Definitions alone do not create statutory timelines or additional funding, so communities seeking faster ESA outcomes and more resources will not necessarily receive direct procedural speedups or financial support.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires agencies to give Federal water-project contractors routine, stage-specific opportunities to participate in ESA section 7 consultations and reconsultations affecting project operations and deliveries.
Official title: To ensure meaningful consultation and cooperation between Federal and local entities in the operation of Federal water projects in the Reclamation States, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 14, 2026 by Cliff Bentz · Last progress April 14, 2026
Requires federal action agencies and the Secretary to give contractors for Federal water projects routine, continuing, and specific opportunities to participate in Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 7 consultations and reconsultations about project operations. Contractors who request to participate must be allowed to provide information, review drafts, engage on schedules and proposed actions that would reduce contracted water deliveries, participate on reasonable and prudent alternatives/measures, and receive explanations of legal and scientific bases for decisions. Defines key terms (including contractor, covered entity, engage, and Federal water project) by cross-reference to ESA definitions and related law so that the procedural participation rights apply to entities tied to Federal water projects and Reclamation-State projects. The bill is procedural and does not change ESA text, allocate funds, or set numeric deadlines.