This bill, known as the DROUGHT Act of 2026, increases the maximum federal funding level for certain water infrastructure projects from the standard cap to 90 percent of project costs. It directly affects states and counties experiencing severe drought conditions, as well as projects serving low-income communities or those designated as regionally or nationally significant. The legislation defines covered projects as those located in areas with severe drought designations or declared drought emergencies, those serving low-income populations, or those that improve water supply, reuse, or reduce water usage. The bill requires federal officials to prioritize financing for these specific projects under the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014.
HR 4816 directs existing federal infrastructure funds to provide forgivable loans or grants specifically for lead pipe replacement projects in disadvantaged communities. It requires that all funds allocated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for drinking water system upgrades must be distributed as these forgivable loans or grants to communities meeting the definition in the Safe Drinking Water Act. The bill targets lead service line replacement, including associated activities like identifying and planning for pipe replacement. This policy change ensures disadvantaged communities receive direct financial support for critical water infrastructure improvements without requiring repayment.
HR 6187, the Wojnovich Pipeline Safety Act of 2025, establishes a $100 million annual grant program to fund safety upgrades for hazardous liquid pipelines owned by municipalities or community-owned utilities. It requires states to mandate real estate disclosures about nearby pipelines in property contracts and creates a new $2.5 million annual penalty for operators failing to report leaks (doubling to $5 million if delayed by 15 days). The bill also mandates localized emergency alerts within one mile of pipelines and creates a community trust fund using penalty payments to reimburse emergency responders for costs related to pipeline incidents. These provisions directly affect pipeline operators, property sellers, and local emergency response agencies.
This bill resolves long-standing water rights claims for the Yavapai-Apache Nation regarding the Verde River Watershed and Colorado River by ratifying a settlement agreement. It authorizes construction of the Tú ńlį́į́níchoh Water Infrastructure Project, including a pipeline to deliver water from C.C. Cragin Dam and a drinking water system for the tribe. The bill establishes a $731 million fund for pipeline infrastructure and a $152 million fund for drinking water, with additional funds for water projects and watershed restoration. It includes waivers of water rights claims by the tribe and U.S. government, with specific exceptions for future claims and certain water uses.
The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2025 provides federal funding to address the lack of clean water and sanitation on Tribal lands and for the Native Hawaiian Community. The bill authorizes $100 million annually for USDA water infrastructure loans and grants, $500 million annually for Indian Health Service sanitation facilities, $100 million annually for operation and maintenance of water systems, and $30 million annually for technical assistance to help Tribal communities access and manage water infrastructure funding. It specifically expands eligibility to include Native Hawaiian organizations, addresses gaps in previous infrastructure funding, and requires no matching contributions from Tribal communities. The bill targets the situation where nearly half of households on Tribal lands lack reliable water sources and basic sanitation.
HR 3892, the Flow Act, clarifies that replacing privately-owned lead service lines connected to public water systems does not count as "private business use" under federal tax law. This change directly affects public water systems and issuers of tax-exempt bonds by allowing them to use bond proceeds for lead pipe replacement without disqualifying the bonds from tax-exempt status. The bill specifies that funds used to replace lead service lines to comply with federal lead regulations (as defined in the Safe Drinking Water Act) qualify for this tax treatment. The provision applies to bonds issued after December 31, 2025, facilitating future financing for lead pipe removal projects.
This bill requires NASA to reimburse the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for costs related to replacing contaminated drinking water wells located on NASA property. It mandates a 5-year agreement between NASA and the town to remove three specific wells and establish new wells on town-controlled land, including details on relocation sites, costs, and engineering. NASA must submit the agreement to Congress within 18 months for oversight by the Senate Commerce Committee and House Science Committee. The law directly affects Chincoteague residents relying on these wells and shifts responsibility for relocation costs to NASA.
This bill amends federal water storage grant programs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to expand eligibility for projects. It sets specific capacity limits: surface water projects must store 200-30,000 acre-feet, while groundwater projects must average 200-150,000 acre-feet annually. Eligible projects must increase storage, convey water to/from storage, or stabilize groundwater levels. The bill also increases the number of annual grants from 5 to 10 and explicitly states it does not override state water laws, federal water rights, or water rights protections.
HR 1444, the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, establishes a settlement for the Zuni Tribe's water rights in the Zuni River Stream System by confirming the Tribe's water rights held in trust by the U.S. government. The bill creates a $655.5 million Trust Fund for water infrastructure development and management, plus $29.5 million for operation and maintenance, with funds to be used for projects like water treatment, irrigation systems, and watershed protection. It also protects approximately 217,000 acres of culturally significant land around Zuni Salt Lake by withdrawing Federal land from development and imposing management restrictions. The settlement ensures Tribal water rights cannot be forfeited for non-use and maintains existing water rights for individual allottees on Zuni Lands.
The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act of 2025 provides federal funding to improve water infrastructure on Tribal lands and for the Native Hawaiian community. The bill authorizes $100 million annually for water and waste facility loans and grants, $500 million for sanitation facilities construction through the Indian Health Service, and $100 million for operation and maintenance of water systems, all from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. It also provides $30 million annually for technical assistance to help Tribes access funding and develop sustainable water systems. The bill aims to address the lack of clean water access, which affects nearly half of all households on Tribal lands. The funding requires no matching contribution from Tribes and prioritizes facilities most in need of assistance.
