Sponsors
The bill prioritizes faster, simpler construction and protection of regional utility and water infrastructure—improving local reliability and lowering project costs—at the cost of reduced procedural protections, potential environmental harm to expanded conservation lands, and lost federal rent revenue.
Residents and water users served by the Southern Nevada Water Authority and regional utility customers gain improved reliability because the bill secures a federal right-of-way for the Horizon lateral water pipeline and preserves existing utility transmission corridors, enabling construction and continued operation of water, electricity, and communications infrastructure.
Utilities, contractors, and ratepayers benefit from simpler construction logistics because the bill allows excavation materials from tunneling to be used or disposed of on federal land, reducing delays and potentially lowering project costs.
Rural communities, recreationists, and conservation interests benefit because the bill expands the Conservation Area from 48,438 to 57,728 acres, increasing protected public land and potential habitat and recreation opportunities.
Local governments, rural communities, tribal stakeholders, and the public may have reduced procedural protections and less opportunity for input because the bill authorizes rights-of-way notwithstanding certain FLPMA provisions and imposes a fast one-year deadline, compressing environmental review and increasing the risk of rushed decisions or litigation.
Wildlife, cultural sites, and users of the Conservation Area face increased environmental risk because permitting pipeline construction and disposal on federal lands could damage sensitive resources despite stated protections.
Taxpayers and the federal budget could be negatively affected because the bill allows federal right-of-way grants without payment of rents or charges, reducing federal revenue or creating a need for taxpayer subsidy for construction on public land.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Expands the conservation area and authorizes rent-free rights-of-way to Southern Nevada Water Authority for the Horizon lateral pipeline and related infrastructure outside the area, subject to conditions.
Updates the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area boundary to add acreage and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, to grant temporary and permanent rights-of-way to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for the Horizon lateral water pipeline and related powerline, facility, and access road outside the conservation area without rents or charges, subject to conditions and existing rights. The bill requires the grant within one year, sets limits on siting to protect conservation resources and wilderness, provides for disposal of tunneling materials under an MOU, and preserves existing transmission corridor rights and management rules except as amended.
Introduced February 4, 2025 by Alice Costandina Titus · Last progress February 26, 2026