S. 953 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Mar 11, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySettles water rights for Arizona tribes
This bill settles long-standing water rights disputes involving the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in Arizona. It confirms how much Colorado River water each tribe can use and sets up funding to build a pipeline that will deliver water to these tribes. The bill also creates trust funds for each tribe and establishes a reservation of about 5,400 acres of land in Arizona and Utah for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
How it affects you
This settlement directly affects members of these three tribes, who will gain confirmed water rights and access to new water infrastructure and settlement funds. For other Arizona residents and water users, the bill allocates part of Arizona's share of Colorado River water to these tribes as part of resolving their claims. Most other Americans will not directly feel the effects of this bill, though it settles disputes that have involved federal water and tribal sovereignty issues.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Mar 11, 2025)
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in Arizona of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. It also provides funding for a water pipeline and three settlement trust funds.
Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the tribes, the United States, Arizona, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in Arizona (including with respect to the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River).
Additionally, the bill outlines the water rights of the tribes. For example, the bill allocates and assigns Colorado River water from Arizona's share to the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe.
The bill establishes and provides funding for an implementation fund account for the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design, and construct a pipeline to deliver water to the tribes.
Further, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Navajo Nation Water Settlement Trust Fund, the Hopi Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund.
The bill also establishes a reservation consisting of approximately 5,400 acres of land in Arizona and Utah for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by ratifying and confirming the treaty entered into by the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
The bill outlines waivers, releases, and retention of claims by the tribes 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. 953
A BILL
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) · Introduced Mar 11, 2025 · Native Americans · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 11, 2026: “Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.”
Sections
Sections · 21
- Sec. 1Short title; table of contentsNo change
- Sec. 2PurposesNo change
- Sec. 3DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 4Ratification and execution of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement AgreementNo change
- Sec. 5Water RightsNo change
- Sec. 6Allocation and assignment of Arizona Colorado River Water to the Tribes; water use; storage; water delivery contractsNo change
- Sec. 7Colorado River Water leases and exchanges; UsesNo change
- Sec. 8iiná bá – paa tuwaqat’si pipelineNo change
- Sec. 9iiná bá – paa tuwaqat’si pipeline Implementation Fund AccountNo change
- Sec. 10Navajo Nation Water Settlement Trust FundNo change
- Sec. 11Hopi Tribe Water Settlement Trust FundNo change
- Sec. 12San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Water Settlement Trust FundNo change
- Sec. 13FundingNo change
- Sec. 14Waivers, releases, and retention of claimsNo change
- Sec. 15Satisfaction of Water Rights and other benefitsNo change
- Sec. 16Enforceability DateNo change
- Sec. 17Colorado River accountingNo change
- Sec. 18Limited waiver of sovereign immunityNo change
- Sec. 19Ratification of the Treaty and creation of the San Juan Southern Paiute ReservationNo change
- Sec. 20Authorization for use of Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project facilitiesNo change
- Sec. 21Antideficiency; savings provisions; effectNo change