Summary

Makes technical and structural changes to the existing Crow Tribe water‑rights settlement law to reorganize how settlement funds are held and used. It creates a distinct MR&I (municipal, rural, and irrigation) Projects Account and a non‑trust Crow CIP Implementation Account, clarifies what deposits may be made and how funds may be spent, affirms tribal ownership and operation of constructed projects, and removes a federal obligation for operations, maintenance, and replacement. Also updates definitions, repeals the prior MR&I System provision, adds cost‑indexing rules for MR&I deposits, extends one Yellowtail Dam timing provision, authorizes transfers among certain joint accounts into the new accounts, and makes conforming cross‑reference and table‑of‑contents changes. The bill does not specify dollar amounts or an effective date in the text provided.

Key Points

• Creates two distinct accounts: an MR&I Projects Account and a non‑trust Crow CIP Implementation Account.
• Redefines MR&I Project activities and repeals the prior MR&I System provision.
• Specifies permitted deposit sources and uses for the new accounts, including post‑project land purchases with water rights.
• Affirms tribal title, control, and operation of constructed projects and removes federal O&M/replacement obligation.
• Adds cost‑indexing adjustments for MR&I deposit amounts based on a Reclamation construction cost index.
• Authorizes transfers from certain joint signature accounts into the new accounts.
• Extends a Yellowtail Dam timing provision from 15 to 20 years and updates statutory cross‑references and table‑of‑contents items.

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