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S. 563 119th Congress Senate

Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Official title: A bill to approve the settlement of water rights claims of Ohkay Owingeh in the Rio Chama Stream System, to restore the Bosque on Pueblo Land in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 13, 2025 Introduced by: Martin Heinrich Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
Native Americans Federal-Indian relationsGovernment trust fundsIndian claimsIndian lands and resources rights
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Land transfersLand use and conservationNew MexicoState and local financeWater qualityWater use and supplyWatershedsWildlife conservation and habitat protection
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 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 4, 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 428.
Jun 4, 2026
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-124.
Mar 5, 2025
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Feb 13, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
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What's happening now June 4, 2026

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 428.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of the pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh. It also establishes and provides funding for a settlement trust fund.

Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Rio Chama Stream System in New Mexico.

The bill establishes and provides funding for the Ohkay Owingeh Water Rights Settlement Trust Fund. This trust fund may only be used for five specified purposes, including for activities related to water production, treatment, or delivery infrastructure.

The bill also (1) specifies the water rights of the pueblo; and (2) outlines waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the pueblo and the United States.

 Hearings & markups 1
 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1323 Identical bill Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Feb 13, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 563: Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-563/
MLA
"S. 563: Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-563/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 563, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-563/.
Markdown link
[S. 563: Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-563/)
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