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
(a) Navajo nation and the members of the navajo nation; navajo allottees and the united states, acting as trustee for the navajo allottees
(1) Navajo nation and the members of the navajo nation
(A) In general. The benefits provided under the Settlement Agreement shall be in complete replacement of, complete substitution for, and full satisfaction of any claim of the Navajo Nation and the Members of the Navajo Nation against the Parties, including the United States, that is waived and released by the Navajo Nation acting on behalf of the Navajo Nation and the Members of the Navajo Nation under Exhibits 13.1 and 13.3 to the Settlement Agreement.
(B) Satisfaction of water rights. Any entitlement to water of the Navajo Nation and the Members of the Navajo Nation (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Navajo Allottees) or the United States acting as trustee for the Navajo Nation and the Members of the Navajo Nation (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Navajo Allottees), for Navajo Land shall be satisfied out of the water resources and other benefits granted, confirmed, quantified, or recognized by the Settlement Agreement and this Act, to or for the Navajo Nation, the Members of the Navajo Nation (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Navajo Allottees), and the United States, acting as trustee for the Navajo Nation and the Members of the Navajo Nation (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Navajo Allottees).
(2) Navajo allottees and the united states, acting as trustee for the navajo allottees
(A) In general. The benefits realized by the Navajo Allottees under the Settlement Agreement and this Act shall be in complete replacement of, complete substitution for, and full satisfaction of—
(i) all claims waived and released by the United States (acting as trustee for the Navajo Allottees) under Exhibit 13.2 to the Settlement Agreement; and
(ii) any claims of the Navajo Allottees against the United States similar to the claims described in Exhibit 13.2 to the Settlement Agreement that the Navajo Allottees asserted or could have asserted.
(B) Satisfaction of water rights. Any entitlement to water of the Navajo Allottees or the United States acting as trustee for the Navajo Allottees, for Navajo Allotments shall be satisfied out of the water resources and other benefits granted, confirmed, or recognized by the Settlement Agreement and this Act, to or for the Navajo Allottees and the United States, acting as trustee for the Navajo Allottees.
(3) No right established. Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), nothing in the Settlement Agreement or this Act recognizes or establishes any right of a Member of the Navajo Nation (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Navajo Allottees) to water on Navajo Land.
(b) Hopi tribe and the members of the hopi tribe; hopi allottees and the united states, acting as trustee for the hopi allottees
(1) Hopi tribe and the members of the hopi tribe
(A) In general. The benefits provided under the Settlement Agreement shall be in complete replacement of, complete substitution for, and full satisfaction of any claim of the Hopi Tribe and the Members of the Hopi Tribe against the Parties, including the United States, that is waived and released by the Hopi Tribe acting on behalf of the Hopi Tribe and the Members of the Hopi Tribe under Exhibits 13.6 and 13.8 to the Settlement Agreement.
(B) Satisfaction of water rights. Any entitlement to water of the Hopi Tribe and the Members of the Hopi Tribe (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Hopi Allottees) or the United States acting as trustee for the Hopi Tribe and the Members of the Hopi Tribe (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Hopi Allottees), for Hopi Land shall be satisfied out of the water resources and other benefits granted, confirmed, quantified, or recognized by the Settlement Agreement and this Act, to or for the Hopi Tribe, the Members of the Hopi Tribe (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Hopi Allottees), and the United States, acting as trustee for the Hopi Tribe and the Members of the Hopi Tribe (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Hopi Allottees).
(2) Hopi allottees and the united states, acting as trustee for the hopi allottees
(A) In general. The benefits realized by the Hopi Allottees under the Settlement Agreement shall be in complete replacement of, complete substitution for, and full satisfaction of—
(i) all claims waived and released by the United States (acting as trustee for the Hopi Allottees) under Exhibit 13.7 to the Settlement Agreement; and
(ii) any claims of the Hopi Allottees against the United States similar to the claims described in Exhibit 13.7 to the Settlement Agreement that the Hopi Allottees asserted or could have asserted.
(B) Satisfaction of water rights. Any entitlement to water of the Hopi Allottees or the United States acting trustee for the Hopi Allottees, for Hopi Allotments shall be satisfied out of the water resources and other benefits granted, confirmed, or recognized by the Settlement Agreement and this Act, to or for the Hopi Allottees and the United States, acting as trustee for the Hopi Allottees.
(3) No right established. Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), nothing in the Settlement Agreement or this Act recognizes or establishes any right of a Member of the Hopi Tribe (but not Members in the capacity of the Members as Hopi Allottees) to water on Hopi Land.
(c) San juan southern paiute tribe and the members of the san juan southern paiute tribe
(1) In general. The benefits provided under the Settlement Agreement shall be in complete replacement of, complete substitution for, and full satisfaction of any claim of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and the Members of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe against the Parties, including the United States, that is waived and released by the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe acting on behalf of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and the Members of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe under Exhibits 13.11 and 13.12 to the Settlement Agreement.
(2) Satisfaction of water rights. Any entitlement to water of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and the Members of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe or the United States, acting as trustee for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and the Members of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, for San Juan Southern Paiute Land shall be satisfied out of the water resources and other benefits granted, confirmed, quantified, or recognized by the Settlement Agreement and this Act, to or for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and the Members of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and the United States, acting as trustee for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and the Members of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
(3) No right established. Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), nothing in the Settlement Agreement or this Act recognizes or establishes any right of a Member of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe to water on the San Juan Southern Paiute Southern Area.