Bills · S 2701
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 2701Forests, forestry, treesWildlife conservation and habitat protection
Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
INTRO SEP 3· LAST ACTION SEP 3
READING
7MIN
COSPONSORS
4BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it directly addresses critical issues like clean water availability, wildfire prevention, and the health of our natural environment. By expanding and better funding the Water Source Protection Program, the bill aims to safeguard the sources of drinking water for many communities and reduce the risk of devastating wildfires, which can severely impact water quality and supply.
If this bill becomes law, more resources would be available to protect watersheds from threats like drought, extreme weather, and insect infestations, potentially leading to more reliable and cleaner water supplies. It also empowers a wider range of local partners, including traditional community groups, to take a leading role in these efforts. Without this bill, the program's funding would remain lower, fewer types of organizations could participate, and its ability to address growing environmental challenges might be limited, potentially increasing risks to water resources and forest ecosystems.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Expands the list of eligible partners for watershed protection projects to include acequia associations, public and private water management entities, and land-grant mercedes.
This allows a wider range of local and traditional groups to access funding and support for protecting their water sources.
PROVISION 02
Permits watershed protection and restoration projects to be carried out on non-Federal land, including state, local, and private land, that is adjacent to national forests, with express consent from the landowner.
This enables more comprehensive and contiguous protection efforts across entire watersheds, regardless of land ownership.
PROVISION 03
Increases the authorized funding for the Water Source Protection Program from $10 million to $30 million annually and extends this authorization for ten fiscal years, from 2025 through 2034.
This provides substantially more financial resources and long-term stability for critical water and forest protection projects.
PROVISION 04
Reduces the required non-Federal cost-share contribution for projects from 'at least equal to' (implied 50%) to 'not less than 20 percent' of the federal amount, and allows the Secretary to waive this requirement.
This makes it easier for communities and partners, especially those with fewer resources, to participate in the program.
PROVISION 05
Prioritizes projects that provide risk management benefits related to drought, wildfire, and extreme weather, support aquatic restoration, and improve resilience to climate change.
This focuses program efforts on addressing pressing environmental challenges and ensuring long-term ecological and water supply stability.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 4
D· Colorado
YRS IN OFFICE
17
BILLS LED
82
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 100%
DEM 2 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSSEP 3
Introduced in Senate
SEP 3
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 2701
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedSep 3, 2025
Last actionSep 3, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED SEP 3, 2025
Senate BillS 2701Forests, forestry, treesWildlife conservation and habitat protection
Headwaters Protection Act of 2025
INTRODUCED SEP 3, 2025· LAST ACTION SEP 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
7 min
COSPONSORS
4
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
