Federal Water Projects Consultation Improvement Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8259 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8259 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. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 14, 2026 Mr. Bentz (for himself and Mr. Fulcher) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Water Projects Consultation Improvement Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. CONSULTATION WITH AFFECTED CONTRACTORS OF FEDERAL WATER PROJECTS. (a) Resolution of Water Resource Issues.--In furtherance of the policy established by section 2(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531(c)(2)), in a consultation or reconsultation under section 7 of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) with respect to the operation of a Federal water project, the head of each action agency, the Secretary, or the head of an action agency and the Secretary working in coordination, as applicable, shall ensure that each covered entity that so requests shall-- (1) have routine and continuing opportunities-- (A) to discuss and submit information to the action agency for consideration during the development of any biological assessment; and (B) engage with the action agency with respect to the preparation of the biological assessment; (2) if the head of an action agency suggests or considers an agency a