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.
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
The bill creates states the purposes of Title I, which is to achieve a final settlement of water rights claims for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San Jose Stream System, authorize the settlement agreement, establishes definitions for key terms used in Title I, including the settlement Agreement, the Pueblos, Pueblo Land, Pueblo Water Rights, and various geographic and legal terms related to the Rio San Jose Stream System, and authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Rio San Jose Water Rights Settlement Agreement between the Pueblos, New Mexico, and other parties. It relies on liability protections, exemptions, compliance mandates, and appropriations. The main policy areas are Native American Affairs and Energy.
Who Benefits and How
Pueblo of Jemez and Pueblo of Zia could gain revenue opportunities, Pueblo of Acoma and Pueblo of Laguna could gain revenue opportunities, and Pueblo of Zia could gain revenue opportunities.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Department of the Interior would take on compliance duties and Federal taxpayers could face higher costs.
Key Provisions
- Creates states the purposes of Title I, which is to achieve a final settlement of water rights claims for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San Jose Stream System, authorize the settlement agreement...
- Establishes definitions for key terms used in Title I, including the settlement Agreement, the Pueblos, Pueblo Land, Pueblo Water Rights, and various geographic and legal terms related to the Rio San Jose Stream System...
- Authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Rio San Jose Water Rights Settlement Agreement between the Pueblos, New Mexico, and other parties.
- Establishes that Pueblo Water Rights are held in trust by the United States and cannot be lost through non-use, forfeiture, or abandonment.
- Establishes three trust funds for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna: Settlement Trust Funds for each Pueblo and a shared Acomita Reservoir Works Trust Fund.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
The bill creates states the purposes of Title I, which is to achieve a final settlement of water rights claims for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San Jose Stream System, authorize the settlement agreement, establishes definitions for key terms used in Title I, including the settlement Agreement, the Pueblos, Pueblo Land, Pueblo Water Rights, and various geographic and legal terms related to the Rio San Jose Stream System, and authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Rio San Jose Water Rights Settlement Agreement between the Pueblos, New Mexico, and other parties.
Key Policy Areas
Native American Affairs, Energy
Primary Purpose
The bill creates states the purposes of Title I, which is to achieve a final settlement of water rights claims for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San Jose Stream System, authorize the settlement agreement, establishes definitions for key terms used in Title I, including the settlement Agreement, the Pueblos, Pueblo Land, Pueblo Water Rights, and various geographic and legal terms related to the Rio San Jose Stream System, and authorizes, ratifies, and confirms the Rio San Jose Water Rights Settlement Agreement between the Pueblos, New Mexico, and other parties.
Policy Domains
Title I - Rio San Jose Stream System Settlement (Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna)
Identified Gains
- Pueblo of Jemez and Pueblo of Zia
- Pueblo of Acoma and Pueblo of Laguna
- Pueblo of Zia
- Pueblo of Laguna
- Pueblo of Jemez
Identified Costs
- Department of the Interior
- Federal taxpayers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Heinrich (for himself and Mr. Luján) introduced the following …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Acoma and Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Jemez
Department of the Interior, United States (as trustee), United States Government
Positive-direction: United States (as trustee), United States Government
Negative-direction: Department of the Interior
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
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