Congress·Passed Senate·S. 154

Senate Passes Bill to Extend Colorado River Water Conservation Program Through 2026

Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act

9 months ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Legislative Progress

✓ Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

This bill extends a federal pilot program that pays farmers, cities, and tribes in the Colorado River Basin to voluntarily use less water, helping protect the water supply for millions of people across seven Western states and parts of Mexico.
From policy text
“To amend the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, to reauthorize the Colorado River System conservation pilot program.”
View in full text
The program's deadline for launching new conservation projects is pushed from 2024 to 2026, giving communities two more years to participate in water-saving efforts.
From policy text
“subsection (c)(2), by striking ``2024'' and inserting ``2026''”
View in full text
The final reporting deadline for the program is extended from 2025 to 2027, ensuring the government has time to evaluate whether the conservation efforts are working.
From policy text
“subsection (d), by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2027''”
View in full text
The bill passed the Senate on June 18, 2025 and now heads to the House. It is a short, targeted reauthorization that does not create new funding or change the structure of the existing program — it simply keeps the current framework running longer.

Energy EnvironmentAgriculture

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

4 milestones9 actions

Jun 23, 2025House

Held at the desk.

Jun 23, 2025House

Received in the House.

Jun 23, 2025Senate

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Jun 18, 2025Senate

Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (text: CR S3459)

Jun 18, 2025

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Upon enactment

Conservation program deadline extended to 2026, allowing new water-saving projects to continue being launched

Farmers, cities, and tribes in the Colorado River Basin can keep signing up for payments in exchange for using less water through 2026

2027-12-31

Program reporting deadline moves to 2027

The government will have until 2027 to evaluate the program's effectiveness and report results, informing future water policy decisions for the Southwest

Related News

5 articles

The Colorado Sun·7 months ago

Colorado River water conservation program remains stalled in US House

A federal program paying farmers and ranchers to voluntarily cut water use is stalled in the House. The System Conservation Pilot Program (SCPP) aims to protect Lake Mead and Lake Powell, but the lack of reauthorization has left Western Slope irrigators in limbo during a dry summer.

CL=

POLITICO·9 months ago

Senate approves package of park, water and forest bills

The Senate passed the Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act (S. 154) as part of a bipartisan package. The bill, led by Sens. Hickenlooper and Bennet, renews a $125 million effort to reduce water use in the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

CL+

WyoFile·about 1 year ago

Wyoming delegation scrambles to restore millions for irrigators’ water conservation

Wyoming's federal delegation introduced legislation to restore the System Conservation Pilot Program after it expired in December. The program is vital for Upper Basin states that prefer voluntary, compensated conservation over mandatory cuts proposed by downstream states.