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Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Introduced: February 13, 2025 Introduced by: Heinrich, Martin Democratic · New Mexico See on congress.gov
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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. 429.
Jun 4, 2026
Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-125.
Mar 5, 2025
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Feb 13, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of the pueblo of Zuni and establishes and provides funding for a related settlement trust fund. It also requires federal actions related to the Zuni Salt Lake in New Mexico.

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

The bill establishes and provides funding for the Zuni Tribe Settlement Trust Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill.

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

The bill also withdraws certain federal land in New Mexico from mineral development. The bill reserves this federal land for the following three purposes: (1) the protection of the Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary, (2) the protection of the quality and quantity of the Zuni Salt Lake's water supply, and (3) the protection of any cultural resources associated with the Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary. The Bureau of Land Management must manage this land.

The Department of the Interior must take certain land surrounding the Zuni Salt Lake into trust for the benefit of Zuni.

What's happening now June 4, 2026

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 429.

 Hearings & markups 1
 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1444 Identical bill Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 6

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

 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. 564: Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-564/
MLA
"S. 564: Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-564/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 564, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-564/.
Markdown link
[S. 564: Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-564/)
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