Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill modifies a 2010 water rights agreement between the Crow Tribe of Montana and the state of Montana. It makes technical and financial updates to help complete two major water projects on the Crow Reservation: repairs and improvements to the Crow Irrigation Project (which serves farmland on tribal lands) and development of a municipal and rural water system to provide drinking water and industrial water to the reservation. The bill establishes a special bank account—called the Crow CIP Implementation Account—to hold and manage federal funds dedicated to these water infrastructure projects. **Who It Affects:** The Crow Tribe of Montana is the primary beneficiary, as the bill directly supports water infrastructure improvements on their reservation.
Montana state officials are also involved since the original agreement was between the tribe and the state. Farmers and residents on the Crow Reservation who depend on irrigation and water services would benefit from these improvements. **Current Status:** The bill has already passed the Senate and is moving through the legislative process. It had bipartisan support, being sponsored by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT).
CRS Official Summary
Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025This bill revises the water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Crow Tribe of Montana and Montana.The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 ratified, authorized, and confirmed the water rights compact between the tribe and Montana. Among other provisions, this settlement act authorized the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design and construct the following two major projects on the Crow Reservation: (1) the rehabilitation and improvement of the Crow Irrigation Project (CIP); and (2) the planning, design, and construction of the MR&I System (the municipal, rural, and industrial water system of the Crow Reservation).Among other provisions, the bill revises the settlement act toreplace references to the MR&I System with MR&I Projects; establish a nontrust, interest-bearing account (to be known as the Crow CIP Implementation Account) to allow Reclamation to continue to work on the rehabilitation of the CIP; create a new MR&I Projects Account, through which the tribe must use funds for activities related to water production, treatment, or delivery infrastructure; andextend by five years (to 2030) the period during which the tribe has the exclusive right to construct hydropower facilities on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam in Montana.
Latest Action
Held at the desk.