To approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San José Stream System and the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia in the Rio Jemez Stream System in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Luján) introduced the following …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill settles decades-long water rights disputes between four Native American Pueblos in New Mexico (Acoma, Laguna, Jemez, and Zia) and other water users in two major river systems. It formally recognizes the Pueblos' water rights and provides approximately $1.34 billion in federal funding to establish water infrastructure trust funds.
Who Benefits and How
Four New Mexico Pueblos are the primary beneficiaries:
- Pueblo of Acoma receives approximately $312 million for water rights settlement, infrastructure, and feasibility studies
- Pueblo of Laguna receives approximately $493 million for water rights settlement, infrastructure, and feasibility studies
- Pueblo of Jemez receives $290 million for water development
- Pueblo of Zia receives $200 million for water development
The Pueblos also gain legally protected water rights that cannot be lost through non-use or abandonment, plus the ability to lease water rights for up to 99 years.
New Mexico acequias and irrigation associations receive State funding for ditch improvements and water projects, including $16 million for Jemez River Basin acequia improvements.
Water infrastructure contractors and engineering firms will benefit from major construction projects funded by the settlement.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal taxpayers bear the primary burden, providing approximately $1.34 billion in direct appropriations ($850 million for Title I and $490 million for Title II).
State of New Mexico taxpayers contribute approximately $56 million for related projects and acequia improvements.
The Pueblos must waive all historical water rights claims against the United States and other parties in exchange for the settlement benefits.
Department of the Interior faces increased compliance burdens to administer the trust funds and ensure environmental compliance.
Key Provisions
- Establishes Pueblo Water Rights that cannot be lost through non-use, forfeiture, or abandonment
- Creates settlement trust funds managed by the Secretary of the Interior with specific accounts for water rights, infrastructure operations, and feasibility studies
- Appropriates $850 million for Rio San Jose Stream System settlement (Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna)
- Appropriates $490 million for Jemez River Stream System settlement (Pueblos of Jemez and Zia)
- Requires State of New Mexico to amend law allowing 99-year Pueblo water right leases
- Mandates waivers of all historical water rights claims in exchange for settlement benefits
- Exempts settlement agreement execution from NEPA major federal action requirements
- Includes antideficiency clauses protecting the federal government if appropriations are not provided
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Settles water rights claims for four New Mexico Pueblos (Acoma, Laguna, Jemez, and Zia) in two stream systems, providing approximately $1.34 billion in federal funding for water infrastructure and trust funds while resolving decades-long adjudication proceedings.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Resolve long-standing water rights disputes through negotiated settlements backed by significant federal appropriations, avoiding continued costly litigation"
Likely Beneficiaries
- Four New Mexico Pueblos (Acoma, Laguna, Jemez, Zia) - receive water rights recognition and approximately $1.34 billion in trust funds
- New Mexico acequias and irrigation associations - receive State funding for improvements and share in settled water allocation
- City of Grants and Village of Milan - benefit from settlement of competing water claims
- Water infrastructure contractors - major construction and rehabilitation projects funded
Likely Burden Bearers
- Federal taxpayers - approximately $1.34 billion in direct appropriations
- State of New Mexico taxpayers - approximately $56 million in state contributions
- Pueblos (limited) - must waive certain historical claims against the United States
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_state"
- → State of New Mexico
- "the_pueblos"
- → Pueblo of Acoma and Pueblo of Laguna
- "decree_court"
- → Thirteenth Judicial District Court of New Mexico
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
- "the_state"
- → State of New Mexico
- "the_pueblos"
- → Pueblo of Jemez and Pueblo of Zia
- "decree_court"
- → United States District Court for the District of New Mexico
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
Note: The term "Pueblos" refers to Acoma and Laguna in Title I (Sec 102) but to Jemez and Zia in Title II (Sec 202)
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Nine specified irrigation associations and community ditches in the Rio San Jose area (Bluewater Toltec Irrigation District, La Acequia Madre del Ojo del Gallo, and seven others)
The Rio San Jose Stream System Water Rights Local Settlement Agreement dated May 13, 2022, among the Pueblos, Navajo Nation, State of New Mexico, City of Grants, Village of Milan, and acequias
Land within the Rio Puerco, Rio San Jose, or Rio Salado basins held in trust by the United States for individual Indians
Secretary of the Interior (throughout both titles)
The Pueblos of Jemez and Zia Water Rights Settlement Agreement dated May 11, 2022, with appendices and exhibits
The date the Secretary publishes findings in the Federal Register confirming all settlement conditions are met
Water rights of the Pueblos in the Rio San Jose, Rio Salado, and Rio Puerco basins as identified in the Agreement and confirmed in the Partial Final Judgment and Decree
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology