S. 565 · 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 Navajo Nation water rights in New Mexico
This bill recognizes and settles water rights that the Navajo Nation has claimed in the Rio San José Stream System in New Mexico. It officially approves a water rights settlement agreement that was negotiated between the Navajo Nation, New Mexico, and others. The bill also creates a trust fund with money set aside to support the settlement and allows the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project to serve additional areas.
How it affects you
This settlement directly affects the Navajo Nation and communities in New Mexico that depend on water from the Rio San José Stream System. For the Navajo Nation, it provides certainty about their water rights and access to funding for water projects. Other people in the region may see changes in water availability and how water from the stream system is shared, though the summary doesn't detail all those effects.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 13, 2025)
Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of the Navajo Nation. It also establishes and provides funding for a settlement trust fund.
Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Navajo Nation, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Rio San José Stream System in New Mexico.
The bill establishes and provides funding for the Navajo Nation Rio San José Water Rights Settlement Trust Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill.
Additionally, the bill (1) specifies the water rights of the tribe; and (2) outlines waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the tribe and the United States.
The bill also allows for additional service areas for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.
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. 565
A BILL
Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement 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 · 15
- Sec. 1Short title; table of contentsNo change
- Sec. 2PurposesNo change
- Sec. 3DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 4Ratification of AgreementNo change
- Sec. 5Navajo Nation’s Water RightsNo change
- Sec. 6Navajo Nation Rio San José Settlement Trust FundNo change
- Sec. 7FundingNo change
- Sec. 8Enforceability DateNo change
- Sec. 9Waivers and releases of claimsNo change
- Sec. 10Satisfaction of claimsNo change
- Sec. 11Consent of United States to jurisdiction for judicial review of a Navajo Nation Water Use Permit decisionNo change
- Sec. 12Miscellaneous provisionsNo change
- Sec. 13Relation to AllotteesNo change
- Sec. 14Expansion of Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project service areaNo change
- Sec. 15AntideficiencyNo change