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) Establishment. The Secretary shall establish a non-trust, interest-bearing account, to be known as the iiná bá – paa tuwaqat’si pipeline Implementation Fund Account, to be managed and distributed by the Secretary, for use by the Secretary in carrying out this Act.
(b) Deposits. The Secretary shall deposit in the iiná bá – paa tuwaqat’si pipeline Implementation Fund Account the amounts made available pursuant to section 13(a)(1).
(c) Uses. The iiná bá – paa tuwaqat’si pipeline Implementation Fund Account shall be used by the Secretary to carry out section 8, including the acquisition of power.
(d) Interest. In addition the amounts deposited in the iiná bá – paa tuwaqat’si pipeline Implementation Fund Account under subsection (b), any investment earnings, including interest credited to amounts unexpended in the iiná bá – paa tuwaqat’si pipeline Implementation Fund Account, are authorized to be appropriated to be used in accordance with the uses described in subsection (c).