1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Water Rights Protection Act of 2023 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Secretary The term Secretary means, as applicable— (A) the Secretary of Agriculture; or (B) the Secretary of the Interior. (2) Water right The term water right means any surface water, groundwater, or water storage use filed, permitted, certificated, confirmed, decreed, adjudicated, or otherwise recognized by a judicial proceeding or by the State, in which the user acquires possession of the water or puts the water to beneficial use, including water rights of federally recognized Indian Tribes. 3. Policy development In developing any rule, policy, directive, management plan, or similar Federal action relating to the issuance, renewal, amendment, or extension of any permit, approval, license, lease, allotment, easement, right-of-way, or other land use or occupancy agreement, the Secretary— (1) shall— (A) recognize the longstanding authority of the States relating to evaluating, protecting, allocating, regulating, permitting, and adjudicating water use; and (B) coordinate with the States to ensure that any rule, policy, directive, management plan, or similar Federal action is consistent with, and imposes no greater restriction or regulatory requirement, than applicable State water law; and (2) shall not— (A) assert any connection between surface water and groundwater that is inconsistent with such a connection recognized by State water law; or (B) take any action that adversely affects— (i) the authority of a State in— (I) permitting the beneficial use of water; or (II) adjudicating water rights; (ii) any definition established by a State with respect to the term beneficial use , priority of water rights , or terms of use