S. 689 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 24, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySettles Tule River Tribe water rights in California
This bill recognizes and settles long-standing water rights for the Tule River Indian Tribe in California. It confirms that the tribe can divert and use 5,828 acre-feet of water per year from the South Fork Tule River, and it establishes a trust fund to help pay for water development projects that benefit the tribe.
How it affects you
This settlement directly affects the Tule River Indian Tribe, who gain confirmed water rights and funding for water infrastructure on their reservation. For other Californians and water users in the region, this resolves a legal dispute by formalizing water allocations among the tribe, local water companies, and other stakeholders.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 24, 2025)
Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles the water rights of the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation in California. 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 tribe, the South Tule Independent Ditch Company, and the Tule River Association, thus satisfying claims to water rights in California.
Additionally, the bill outlines the tribe's water rights, including the right to divert and use 5,828 acre-feet of water per year from the South Fork Tule River.
Next, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Tule River Indian Tribe Settlement Trust Fund. Amounts deposited in this trust fund shall be made available to the tribe for water development projects.
The bill also transfers specified lands, including a portion of federal lands in the Sequoia National Forest, into trust for the benefit of the tribe.
The bill outlines waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the tribe and the United States under the settlement agreement.
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. 689
A BILL
Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) · Introduced Feb 24, 2025 · Native Americans · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 12, 2025: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 75.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.
Sections · 14
- Sec. 1Short title; table of contentsNo change
- Sec. 2PurposesNo change
- Sec. 3DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 4Ratification of 2007 AgreementNo change
- Sec. 5Tribal Water RightNo change
- Sec. 6Tule River Tribe trust accountsNo change
- Sec. 7FundingNo change
- Sec. 8Transfer of land into trustNo change
- Sec. 9Satisfaction of claimsNo change
- Sec. 10Waivers and releases of claimsNo change
- Sec. 11Enforceability DateNo change
- Sec. 12Binding effect; judicial approval; enforceabilityNo change
- Sec. 13Miscellaneous provisionsNo change
- Sec. 14AntideficiencyNo change