The Watershed Results Act is currently being reviewed by a Senate subcommittee. The committee recently held hearings to discuss the bill, which shows it is still actively moving through the process. There are no further actions scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
Senate
House
President
Law
Unlikely to pass
While water issues are a priority in the West, this bill is in the very early stages of the lawmaking process and needs more support to move forward.
How we got here
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
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Reintroduced
Reintroduced from S. 2169 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
The bill creates a pilot program to test new ways of managing water in the Western U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The Department of the Interior would pick up to five projects to receive federal funding for improving local watersheds.
Instead of paying for projects upfront, the government would use pay-for-performance contracts. This means local partners only get paid after they prove their work actually increased water levels, improved fish habitats, or cleaned up pollution.
The program uses advanced computer modeling and data to find the most cost-effective ways to help a watershed. This helps ensure tax dollars are spent on the specific activities that provide the biggest benefit for the lowest price.
Eligible partners include state and local governments, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, and non-profit groups. The federal government would cover up to 75 percent of the costs, while local partners are encouraged to find other sources of funding for the rest.
The bill authorizes 17 million dollars in yearly funding from 2026 through 2031. It also includes privacy protections to ensure that data collected from private land during these studies stays confidential and is not shared with the public.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
3 milestones3 actions
Mar 17, 2026Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
Apr 1, 2025Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Apr 1, 2025
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Watershed Results Act
Bill NumberS 1242
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held.
