S. 562 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 13, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySettles water rights for New Mexico Pueblos
This bill recognizes and approves water rights agreements for four Pueblos in New Mexico: Acoma, Laguna, Jemez, and Zia. It settles long-standing claims these Pueblos have made to water from the Rio San José and Jemez River systems. The bill also sets up special trust funds with money to help these communities, and it outlines exactly what water rights each Pueblo receives and what claims they're giving up.
How it affects you
This settlement directly affects the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, Jemez, and Zia, giving them confirmed legal rights to water they depend on. For most other New Mexicans and Americans, this is a legal resolution that ends disputes over these water resources, though the summary doesn't describe specific day-to-day changes for the broader public.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 13, 2025)
Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of (1) the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, and (2) the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia. It also establishes and provides funding for settlement trust funds.
Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Pueblo of Acoma, the Pueblo of Laguna, the United States, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Rio San José Stream System in New Mexico.
With respect to the water settlement for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Pueblo of Acoma Settlement Trust Fund, the Pueblo of Laguna Settlement Trust Fund, and the Acomita Reservoir Works Trust Fund.
Additionally, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Pueblo of Jemez, the Pueblo of Zia, the United States, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Jemez River Stream System in New Mexico.
With respect to the water settlement for the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Pueblo of Jemez Settlement Trust Fund and the Pueblo of Zia Settlement Trust Fund.
For both of these agreements, the bill (1) specifies the water rights of the pueblos; and (2) outlines waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the pueblos and the United States.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 562
A BILL
Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) · Introduced Feb 13, 2025 · Native Americans · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 5, 2025: “Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.”
Sections
Sections · 1
Title I — Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna Water Rights Settlement · 12
- Sec. 101PurposesNo change
- Sec. 102DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 103Ratification of AgreementNo change
- Sec. 104Pueblo Water RightsNo change
- Sec. 105Settlement trust fundsNo change
- Sec. 106FundingNo change
- Sec. 107Enforceability DateNo change
- Sec. 108Waivers and releases of claimsNo change
- Sec. 109Satisfaction of claimsNo change
- Sec. 110Consent of United States to jurisdiction for judicial review of a Pueblo Water Right permit decisionNo change
- Sec. 111Miscellaneous provisionsNo change
- Sec. 112AntideficiencyNo change
Title II — Pueblos of Jemez and Zia Water Rights Settlement · 11
- Sec. 201PurposesNo change
- Sec. 202DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 203Ratification of AgreementNo change
- Sec. 204Pueblo Water RightsNo change
- Sec. 205Settlement trust fundsNo change
- Sec. 206FundingNo change
- Sec. 207Enforceability dateNo change
- Sec. 208Waivers and releases of claimsNo change
- Sec. 209Satisfaction of claimsNo change
- Sec. 210Miscellaneous provisionsNo change
- Sec. 211AntideficiencyNo change