Alex Padilla (D-CA)
Desalination Reauthorization Act
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 710.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The Desalination Reauthorization Act aims to amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and the Water Desalination Act of 1996. It seeks to reauthorize specific desalination programs. The bill updates the duration of certain desalination projects and provides a new definition for eligible desalination projects. Additionally, it establishes a program for advanced pilot technology grants. These grants are intended to validate new desalination technologies and their costs. Finally, the act updates cost-sharing provisions.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill provides new competitive grants for advanced pilot desalination technologies.
- Scored +3
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill promotes better water resource management and technological innovation for brine disposal.
- Scored +2
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The act addresses water resource management and desalination technologies.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Advancing Water Technology: The bill establishes advanced pilot technology grants to validate the performance of innovations in desalination, including converting saline, brackish, seawater, or wastewater into usable water (Section 2(c)(1)(A)).
-
Managing Waste: Grants are provided to help cost-effectively treat, manage, or dispose of brine discharges (Section 2(c)(1)(B)).
-
Cost Accuracy: The Secretary must ensure that studies include quantitative analyses to estimate the actual cost of water produced at full scale (Section 2(c)(2)).
-
Project Participation: The Secretary is authorized to participate in eligible desalination projects in amounts up to 25 percent of the total cost (Section 2(b)(ii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Project Expiration: Certain projects carried out under the Water Desalination Act of 1996 are set to expire 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act (Section 2(a)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill provides new competitive grants for advanced pilot desalination technologies.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill promotes better water resource management and technological innovation for brine disposal. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The act addresses water resource management and desalination technologies.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill mentions that projects can be maintained by Indian Tribes. Would farmers be better off under this? — Water security is a fundamental benefit for the agricultural sector. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Increased water availability can support rural development and agriculture.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal involvement through new grant programs and expanded project definitions.
- 11/12/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 710.
- 9/30/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 9/16/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held.
- 8/6/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4521)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
John CornynRepublican · Texas