Expands the hydropower development allowed at Bureau of Reclamation projects, which previously covered only small conduit and pumped storage projects, to hydropower using all Bureau of Reclamation facilities.

Official title: Rural Jobs and Hydropower Expansion Act

Next stop House floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

House

Introduced 11-FEB-2026

Referred 11-FEB-2026

Approved by committee 14-MAY-2026

Reported 27-AUG-2026

On the calendar 27-AUG-2026

Key points

Replaces the limit to small conduit hydropower and pumped storage using Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs with hydropower using all Bureau of Reclamation facilities.
Replaces the terms transferred conduit and reserved conduit with transferred works facility and reserved works facility, and defines both terms.
Keeps a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorization in place until it becomes inactive, allows renewal, and shifts project site jurisdiction to the Bureau of Reclamation once it is inactive.
States that the section does not expand Bureau of Reclamation lease of power privilege authorities outside the project boundary.

AI-generated from the Reported in House text of 27-AUG-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

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Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Water Resources Development

Sponsor Lauren Boebert (R-CO) Cosponsors · 1

■ 1 D

1 Democrat

congress.gov page Reported in House (27-AUG-2026) Introduced in House (11-FEB-2026)