H.R. 7078: To amend the Colorado River Basin Project Act to provide for the equitable distribution of Colorado River water for the lower basin States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor
David Schweikert
Republican · AZ-1
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jan 14, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Why it matters
Introduced on 2026-01-14, HR 7078 would change who takes the hit during Colorado River shortages by requiring Arizona, California, and Nevada to absorb reductions on the same pro-rata formula tied to their base annual apportionments.
HR 7078 amends section 301(b) of the Colorado River Basin Project Act, codified at 43 U.S.C. 1521(b). The bill is narrowly targeted but potentially very consequential: when the Secretary of the Interior determines there is a shortage or reduction of main stream Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project, all diversions from the Colorado River for consumptive use by Arizona, California, and Nevada must be reduced.
The key change is how those cuts are allocated. The bill requires reductions to be imposed on a pro-rata basis relative to each state's base annual apportionments. In plain English, that means the three lower basin states would each take a proportional share of the shortage based on their baseline allotment, rather than protecting some users from cuts ahead of others.
The most legally significant language may be the phrase "without preference to present perfected rights." That means even water rights with that special legal status would not get priority treatment during the shortage reductions covered by this amendment. For western water law, that is a major shift because it overrides a traditional pecking order in this specific shortage setting.
The bill does not include a funding authorization, new grant program, or dollar amount. Its practical effect would depend heavily on decisions by the Secretary of the Interior, because the trigger is the Secretary's determination that there is a shortage or reduction of main stream Colorado River water affecting the Central Arizona Project. If enacted, fights over implementation, state shares, and the meaning of base annual apportionments are likely to follow quickly.
What does H.R. 7078 do?
Amends section 301(b) of 43 U.S.C. 1521(b)
HR 7078 specifically amends section 301(b) of the Colorado River Basin Project Act, codified at 43 U.S.C. 1521(b), to change how lower basin water shortages are handled.
Secretary of the Interior triggers shortage cuts
The reduction requirement activates only when the Secretary of the Interior determines there is a shortage or reduction of main stream Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project.
Three-state cuts apply to Arizona, California, Nevada
Once triggered, all diversions from the Colorado River for consumptive use by the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada must be reduced, meaning the bill directly binds exactly 3 lower basin states.
Cuts must be pro-rata to base apportionments
The bill requires reductions to be made on a pro-rata basis relative to each state's base annual apportionments, creating a fixed formula rather than ad hoc or priority-based cuts.
No preference for present perfected rights
The bill says the shortage reductions apply 'without preference to present perfected rights,' expressly removing special priority treatment that might otherwise protect those rights during shortages.
Who benefits from H.R. 7078?
Arizona water users tied to the Central Arizona Project
Because the trigger is a shortage or reduction of main stream Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project, Arizona interests could benefit if reductions are spread across Arizona, California, and Nevada on a pro-rata basis relative to base annual apportionments instead of falling more heavily on Arizona.
Supporters of equal lower basin burden-sharing
People and entities arguing that all 3 lower basin states should share shortages more evenly could benefit from the bill's requirement that Arizona, California, and Nevada all reduce consumptive-use diversions under the same proportional formula.
Federal water managers at the Interior Department
The Secretary of the Interior would get clearer statutory direction in section 301(b) of 43 U.S.C. 1521(b): once a shortage determination is made, reductions must be imposed across the 3 affected states using a pro-rata method.
Who is affected by H.R. 7078?
State governments of Arizona, California, and Nevada
These 3 states are directly named in the bill and would have their Colorado River diversions for consumptive use reduced whenever the Secretary determines there is a qualifying shortage or reduction.
Holders of present perfected rights
The bill specifically says reductions occur 'without preference to present perfected rights,' so right holders with that legal status could lose protection they might otherwise expect during shortage allocations.
Agricultural, municipal, and industrial water users in the lower basin
Any user dependent on diversions from the Colorado River for consumptive use in Arizona, California, or Nevada could face reduced water supplies because the bill mandates cuts across all such diversions once triggered.
Central Arizona Project stakeholders
Because the trigger is tied to a shortage or reduction of main stream Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project, CAP contractors, communities, and related users would be central to any implementation fight or relief claim under the amended rule.
H.R. 7078 Common Questions
Which states would have to share Colorado River shortage cuts under HR 7078?
Arizona, California, and Nevada would all face reduced Colorado River diversions for consumptive use under HR 7078 Section 1, if the Secretary determines a shortage affecting the Central Arizona Project.
How would Colorado River cuts be divided between Arizona, California, and Nevada under HR 7078?
Under HR 7078 Section 1, cuts must be imposed on a pro-rata basis relative to each state's base annual apportionments, rather than by giving some users priority over others.
Can present perfected rights keep priority during Colorado River shortages under HR 7078?
No. According to HR 7078 Section 1, shortage reductions would apply "without preference to present perfected rights," removing special priority treatment in this setting.
Does HR 7078 change water rights for the Central Arizona Project during shortages?
Yes. Under HR 7078 Section 1, if the Secretary finds a shortage or reduction of main stream Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project, all three lower basin states must take proportional cuts.
What triggers the Colorado River cutbacks in HR 7078?
The trigger is the Secretary's determination that there is a shortage or reduction of main stream Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project, according to HR 7078 Section 1.
Does HR 7078 apply to all Colorado River water uses or only consumptive use diversions?
It applies to diversions from the Colorado River for consumptive use by Arizona, California, and Nevada under HR 7078 Section 1.
What are base annual apportionments in HR 7078 used for?
Under HR 7078 Section 1, base annual apportionments are the benchmark used to calculate each state's pro-rata share of shortage reductions.
Can California avoid Colorado River shortage cuts if Arizona's Central Arizona Project is short under HR 7078?
No. Under HR 7078 Section 1, a shortage determination for the Central Arizona Project would require Arizona, California, and Nevada all to take reductions.
Is there any exemption for senior Colorado River rights in the lower basin under HR 7078?
No. According to HR 7078 Section 1, the required pro-rata reductions apply without preference to present perfected rights, so no senior-rights exemption is stated there.
Does HR 7078 amend 43 U.S.C. 1521(b)?
Yes. HR 7078 Section 1 amends Section 301(b) of the Colorado River Basin Project Act, codified at 43 U.S.C. 1521(b).
Based on H.R. 7078 bill text
HR7078 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jan 14, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
About the Sponsor
David Schweikert
Republican, Arizona's 1st congressional district · 15 years in Congress
Committees: Joint Economic Committee, Ways and Means
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Natural Resources Committee
0 of 43 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
24 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does H.R. 7078 change?
1 changes
Sections Amended
Section 301(b) of Colorado River Basin Project Act (43 U.S.C. 1521(b))
read as follows: ``(b) In times of shortage or reduction of main stream Colorado River water for the Central Arizona Project, as determined by the Secretary, all diversions from the Colorado River for consumptive use by the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada shall be reduced on a pro-rata basis relative to their base annual apportionments, without preference to present perfected rights
H.R. 7078 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Natural Resources
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Water Resources Development
- Introduced
- Jan 14, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jan 14, 2026
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the bill, including status, text, and actions.
Official U.S. Code page for the statutory section HR 7078 would amend.
Federal Register publication of the official interim guidelines that govern Lower Basin shortages and coordinated reservoir operations.
The Secretary of the Interior is the federal official named in the bill as responsible for determining the triggering shortage.
H.R. 7078 Bill Text
“To amend the Colorado River Basin Project Act to provide for the equitable distribution of Colorado River water for the lower basin States, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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