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Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Introduced: March 11, 2025 Introduced by: Kelly, Mark Democratic · Arizona See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 11, 2026
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.
Mar 11, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced in Senate
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Jun 6, 2013 Senate · vote #143 On the Cloture Motion S. 953 Rejected 5146 See who voted →
May 18, 2011 Senate · vote #73 On the Motion to Proceed S. 953 Rejected 4257 See who voted →
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in Arizona of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. It also provides funding for a water pipeline and three settlement trust funds. 

Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the tribes, the United States, Arizona, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in Arizona (including with respect to the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River).

Additionally, the bill outlines the water rights of the tribes. For example, the bill allocates and assigns Colorado River water from Arizona's share to the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe.

The bill establishes and provides funding for an implementation fund account for the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design, and construct a pipeline to deliver water to the tribes.

Further, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Navajo Nation Water Settlement Trust Fund, the Hopi Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund.

The bill also establishes a reservation consisting of approximately 5,400 acres of land in Arizona and Utah for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by ratifying and confirming the treaty entered into by the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.

The bill outlines waivers, releases, and retention of claims by the tribes and the United States under the settlement agreement.

What's happening now March 11, 2026

Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held.

 Hearings & markups 1
 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 11

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

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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 953: Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-953/
MLA
"S. 953: Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-953/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 953, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-953/.
Markdown link
[S. 953: Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-S-953/)
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