H.R. 2025
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
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.
Text of the bill
The purposes of this Act are—
(1) to achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of all claims to rights to water in the State for—
(A) the Navajo Nation and Navajo Allottees;
(B) the Hopi Tribe and Hopi Allottees;
(C) the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe; and
(D) the United States, acting as trustee for the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Navajo Allottees, and Hopi Allottees;
(2) to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement entered into by the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, the State, and other Parties to the extent that the Settlement Agreement is consistent with this Act;
(3) to authorize and direct the Secretary to execute and perform the duties and obligations of the Secretary under the Settlement Agreement and this Act; and
(4) to authorize and appropriate funds necessary for the implementation of the Settlement Agreement and this Act.