Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

This bill settles long-standing water rights for three tribes in northeastern Arizona: the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. It confirms their rights to use water and sets clear rules for how that water can be used, shared, and counted on the Colorado River system. It also funds a major drinking water pipeline and other projects so more homes and communities can get safe, reliable water. The tribes can temporarily lease some of their Colorado River water to others to raise revenue, but they keep ownership of the water and must follow the agreement’s rules. Lessees, not the tribes, pay all delivery and power costs for moving that water, including charges on the Central Arizona Project canal system .

The bill sets up several trust funds to build water lines, operate and maintain systems, make farms more water‑efficient, and support renewable energy to offset water system costs. In total, it provides about $5.1 billion, including dedicated money to design and build the iiná bá – paa tuwaqat’si pipeline to bring drinking water to tribal communities such as Leupp, Chinle, and Kayenta. Some funds are available early for design work, and more become available once final approvals are completed. If key steps aren’t finished by June 30, 2035, most of the law is repealed, but a section confirming the San Juan Southern Paiute Reservation still remains in effect .

Key points:

• Who is affected: Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and nearby water users in Arizona .
• What changes: Confirms tribal water rights; builds a major drinking water pipeline; creates large trust funds for water projects, operations, farm water savings, and renewable energy; allows limited water leasing with costs paid by lessees; and lays out how Colorado River water use is tracked so other states’ rights aren’t harmed .
• When: Money moves into trust funds and the full settlement takes effect after federal and state approvals and court decrees are in place; there is a backstop deadline of June 30, 2035 for finalizing the deal .

Overall, the bill aims to bring clean, reliable water to homes, strengthen local farms, and end costly court fights by reaching a fair, final settlement of tribal water rights in the region .