Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act of 2025

Expanded Water Access: The bill allows the Nation to expand the Project Service Area to deliver water to communities within the Rio San Jose Basin in News Mexico and the community of Lupton, Arizona (Section 3(a)(2)).

Reduced Operating Costs: Expanding the service area to include more customers is intended to reduce the unit operations and maintenance costs of the Project (Section 3(a)(2)(A)(ii)).

Cost Savings through Deferral: The bill allows for the mutual agreement to defer construction of certain facilities, which can save on operation and maintenance expenses (Section 3(a)(i)).

Renewable Energy Opportunities: The Secretary is authorized to use up to $6,250,000 of available funds to develop renewable energy for portions of the Project that lack access to Colorado River Storage Project power (Section 3(a)(5)(A)).

Hydroelectric Power Development: Up to $1,250,000 of the renewable energy funds may be used to develop hydroelectric power for facilities that can use hydraulic head to produce electricity (Section 3(a)(5)(B)).

Protection from State Taxes: Construction, operation, or maintenance of Project facilities on land held in trust for the Nation will not be subject to fees, taxes, or assessments from any State or political subdivision (Section 3(e)(1)(A)(2)).

Land Use Restrictions: Land taken into trust for the Project may be subject to existing rights, contracts, leases, permits, or rights-of-way, which could impact those current holders (Section 3(a)(4)(C)(i)).

Easement Restrictions: Land underlying the San Juan Generating Station taken into trust will be subject to a perpetual easement for the use of the Bureau of Reclamation and its contractors (Section 3(a)(4)(C)(iii)(I)).

Taxation on Other Land: Activities occurring on land other than the land held in trust for the Nation will be subject to taxation by the State or its political subdivisions (Section s3(e)(1)(b)(1)).