Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026 | ChamberLight

REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 4040Government trust fundsWater use and supply

Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

INTRO MAR 10· LAST ACTION SEP 17

READING

6MIN

COSPONSORS

2BIPARTISAN

READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL

NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST

Introduced only

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 3 / 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

Voters should care about this bill because it addresses a fundamental need: access to safe and reliable water. For many communities in North Dakota, especially in rural and Tribal areas, adequate water infrastructure is crucial for public health, economic development, and quality of life. This bill aims to complete long-standing projects, many of which have been under construction for years, ensuring that significant past investments are brought to fruition.

If this bill becomes law, it will unlock hundreds of millions of dollars for critical water treatment plants, pipelines, and distribution networks, which means residents will have better access to drinking water, and agricultural and industrial operations will have the water they need. If it doesn't pass, these projects could face further delays, cost overruns due to inflation, or even be left unfinished, leaving communities without the promised water security and wasting previous federal investments.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Authorizes $120 million for the Northwest Area Water Supply Biota Water Treatment Plant and Pump Station Project.

This ensures completion of a major treatment plant and pump station critical for water supply in the northwest region of the state.

PROVISION 02

Authorizes $404 million for the McClusky Canal and Missouri River North Alternative for the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project.

This provides necessary funds to complete a significant alternative water supply project for eastern North Dakota.

PROVISION 03

Authorizes $50 million for the Southwest Pipeline Project to complete various upgrades and expansion, including raw water intake, transmission line upgrades, and rural distribution.

This funding supports improvements and expansion of a vital pipeline system serving southwest North Dakota, enhancing reliability and capacity.

PROVISION 04

Authorizes $743 million for several Tribal rural water systems, including specific allocations for Spirit Lake, Three Affiliated Tribes, Standing Rock, Turtle Mountain, and Lake Traverse.

This addresses long-standing needs for safe and adequate water infrastructure on multiple Indian Reservations, improving health and living conditions.

PROVISION 05

Includes provisions to 'index' all authorized amounts, meaning the dollar values will automatically adjust for inflation and ordinary construction cost fluctuations.

This helps ensure that the approved funds retain their purchasing power over the lifetime of these multi-year construction projects.

SPONSORSHIP

1 + 2

COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 100%

DEM 1 REP 1 IND 0

ACTION TIMELINE

12 EVENTS

SEP 17

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.

COMMITTEE

SEP 17

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.

CALENDARS

JUN 10

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

COMMITTEE

JUN 10

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

COMMITTEE

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 4040

Congress119th

StatusReported

IntroducedMar 10, 2026

Last actionSep 17, 2026

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REPORTED· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 10, 2026

Senate BillS 4040Government trust fundsWater use and supply

Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

INTRODUCED MAR 10, 2026· LAST ACTION SEP 17, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

6 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 3 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Authorizes $120 million for the Northwest Area Water Supply Biota Water Treatment Plant and Pump Station Project.

This ensures completion of a major treatment plant and pump station critical for water supply in the northwest region of the state.

high

Authorizes $404 million for the McClusky Canal and Missouri River North Alternative for the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project.

This provides necessary funds to complete a significant alternative water supply project for eastern North Dakota.

med

Authorizes $50 million for the Southwest Pipeline Project to complete various upgrades and expansion, including raw water intake, transmission line upgrades, and rural distribution.

This funding supports improvements and expansion of a vital pipeline system serving southwest North Dakota, enhancing reliability and capacity.

high

Authorizes $743 million for several Tribal rural water systems, including specific allocations for Spirit Lake, Three Affiliated Tribes, Standing Rock, Turtle Mountain, and Lake Traverse.

This addresses long-standing needs for safe and adequate water infrastructure on multiple Indian Reservations, improving health and living conditions.

med

Includes provisions to 'index' all authorized amounts, meaning the dollar values will automatically adjust for inflation and ordinary construction cost fluctuations.

This helps ensure that the approved funds retain their purchasing power over the lifetime of these multi-year construction projects.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

Final engineering reports for Southwest Pipeline Project upgrades, rural water district expansion, and several Tribal rural water systems.

FUNDING & AUTHORIZATIONS

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

AMOUNT	PROGRAM	TYPE	YEARS
$120,000,000	Northwest Area Water Supply Biota Water Treatment Plant and Pump Station Project	discretionary	until completion
$404,000,000	McClusky Canal and Missouri River North Alternative for Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project	discretionary	until completion
$50,000,000	Southwest Pipeline Project (supplementary raw water intake, main transmission line upgrades, strategic hydraulic improvements, rural distribution expansion)	discretionary	until completion
$63,000,000	North Dakota rural water districts (water treatment and rural distribution expansion, including South Central Regional Water District North Burleigh Water Treatment Plant Expansion and Phase One of the Northeast North Dakota Long-Term Water Supply Project)	discretionary	until completion
$118,000,000

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Authorization of appropriations: A legislative act that permits money to be spent on a specific program or purpose, but does not actually provide the money itself. Actual funds must be provided later through an appropriations act.
Public Law 89-108: The original law passed by Congress in 1965, known as the Garrison Diversion Unit Commission Act, which established a framework for water resource development projects in North Dakota.
Indexed: Refers to adjusting a dollar amount over time to account for changes in costs due to inflation or other economic factors, like construction cost increases, so that the original value is maintained.
Record of decision: A formal public document issued by a federal agency that states the agency's decision on a proposed action, outlines the alternatives considered, and explains the environmental impact statement findings.
Feasibility study: An evaluation of a proposed project to determine if it is technically possible, practical, and financially viable to undertake.
Rural water districts: Local organizations, often government-chartered, that manage and provide drinking water services to communities and properties in rural areas that are not served by municipal water systems.

ACTION TIMELINE

12 EVENTS

SEP 17

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.

COMMITTEE

SEP 17

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 655.

CALENDARS

JUN 10

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

COMMITTEE

JUN 10

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

COMMITTEE

READER REACTIONS

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Energy and Natural Resources CommitteeReferred

Sep 17, 2026

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Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

FUNDING & AUTHORIZATIONS

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

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Discussion

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