Bill · S. 562· Senate(119-S-562)
Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/13/2025
- Last activity
- 3/5/2025 — Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Sponsored by
- Martin Heinrich
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Rio San Jose and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025," aims to settle water rights claims for several New Mexico Pueblos. It specifically addresses the water rights of the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San Jose Stream System. Additionally, it settles claims for the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia in the Rio Jemez Stream System. The Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to execute settlement agreements and provides for the establishment of settlement trust funds. It also mandates specific funding for water infrastructure, management, and various community needs. Finally, the legislation includes provisions for waivers and releases of legal claims to achieve a final settlement.
Yes· 3 of 9
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+8
The bill settles long-standing water rights disputes and provides hundreds of millions of dollars in trust funds for Pueblo communities.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill provides critical water infrastructure and management resources for rural Pueblo lands.
Does this invest in rural communities?+6
The bill directs significant funds toward water production, treatment, and delivery infrastructure in rural Pueblo communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Settlement of Water Rights Claims: The bill seeks to achieve a "fair, equitable, and final settlement" of water rights controversies for the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, Jemez, and Zia (Section 101; Section 201).
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Protection of Water Rights from Loss: Pueblo Water Rights shall not be subject to loss through "non-use, forfeiture, abandonment, or other operation of law" (Section 104(b); Section 204(b)).
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Authority Over Water Resources: The Pueblos are granted the authority to "allocate, distribute, and lease" their water rights for use on Pueblo Land (Section 104(e); Section 204(d)).
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Funding for Water Infrastructure: Specific trust funds are established to pay for the construction, repair, and maintenance of water production, treatment, and delivery infrastructure (Section 105(h)(1); Section 205(g)(1)).
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Immediate Water Access for Acoma: Up to $15,000,000 from the Water Rights Settlement Account can be used specifically for installing groundwater wells to meet "immediate domestic, commercial, municipal and industrial water needs" (Section 105(e)(2)(C)).
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Economic and Community Development Support: Funds may be used for "watershed protection and enhancement, support of agriculture, water-srelated Pueblo community welfare and economic development" (Section 105(h)(1)(D); Section 205(g)(2)).
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Support for Jemez and Zia Development: Funds for the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia can be used for "developing economic water development plans" and "establishing and operating a water resource department" (Section 205(d)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Waiver of Legal Claims: As part of the settlement, the Pueblos must execute a "waiver and release of all claims" for water rights and damages that accrued up to the Enforceability Date (Section 108(a); Section 208(a)).
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Release of Claims Against the United States: The Pueblos must waive claims against the United States related to matters such as "foregone benefits from non-Pueblo use of water" and "damage, loss, or injury to water, water rights, land, or natural resources" (Section 108(b); Section 208(b)).
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Potential Expiration of Benefits: If the Secretary fails to publish a statement of findings by July 1, 2030, the title expires, which would make previously authorized actions and contracts "void" and could require the return of unexpended funds to the Federal Government (Section 107(g); Section 207(g)).
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Financial Responsibility for Infrastructure: All "operation, maintenance, and replacement costs" for projects constructed using the trust funds are the responsibility of the respective Pueblos (Section 105(m); Section 205(l)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+8Good For Rural Residents+6Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Urban Residents+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3Increases Job Creation+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+1
- 3/5/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico