Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025
Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would settle long-standing disputes over water rights between the federal government, the state of New Mexico, and four Native American pueblos: Acoma, Laguna, Jemez, and Zia. The bill formally recognizes and approves water rights agreements these tribes have negotiated, giving them legal claim to specific amounts of water from two river systems in New Mexico (Rio San José and Rio Jemez). The bill also creates special trust funds to help the pueblos manage and use their water resources. **Who It Affects** The legislation directly benefits the four pueblos involved, which gain certainty about their water access for the future.
It also affects New Mexico state water management and other water users in these river systems. More broadly, it addresses historical disputes between Native American tribes and the U.S. government over natural resources on or near tribal lands. **Current Status** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of (1) the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, and (2) the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia. It also establishes and provides funding for settlement trust funds.Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Pueblo of Acoma, the Pueblo of Laguna, the United States, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Rio San José Stream System in New Mexico.With respect to the water settlement for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Pueblo of Acoma Settlement Trust Fund, the Pueblo of Laguna Settlement Trust Fund, and the Acomita Reservoir Works Trust Fund.Additionally, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Pueblo of Jemez, the Pueblo of Zia, the United States, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Jemez River Stream System in New Mexico.With respect to the water settlement for the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Pueblo of Jemez Settlement Trust Fund and the Pueblo of Zia Settlement Trust Fund.For both of these agreements, the bill (1) specifies the water rights of the pueblos; and (2) outlines waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the pueblos and the United States.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.