Bill extends Colorado River water conservation payment program to 2027
Passed one chamberS. 154Latest action
Sponsor: John W. Hickenlooper · Senator · CO
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act
119th Congress
Topics: Environment & energy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
S 154 extends a program paying Colorado River water users to cut usage, pushing deadlines to 2026 and 2027.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
This bill extends the deadlines of an existing 2014 program that pays Colorado River Basin water users to voluntarily reduce water use. Funding availability is extended to 2026 and the program's overall authorization is extended to 2027. It does not change how the program works or add new funding beyond what's already .
Who does it affect?
Farmers, ranchers, cities, and tribes in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming who rely on Colorado River water. The Bureau of Reclamation, which administers the program, is also affected.
Why does it matter?
The extension keeps a conservation tool available for maintaining water levels in reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell, which have been shrinking from drought and overuse. Millions of Southwest residents depend on the river for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower, so the program's continuation affects the broader water supply system.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Based on the “Engrossed in Senate” text of Jun 18, 2025.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJan 21, 2025
- Senate committee
- Senate vote
- HouseYou are here · Jun 23, 2025
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the Senate, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Held at the desk.