Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025

Summary

Implements negotiated water-rights settlements for two New Mexico stream systems by ratifying local agreements, confirming reserved Pueblo water rights, creating trust funds, and authorizing federal action and funding to carry out the settlements. It also sets rules for limited state-court review of certain Pueblo water-permit decisions while preserving tribal sovereignty and conditioning federal obligations on Congress providing appropriations.

• Ratifies and authorizes implementation of negotiated water-rights settlements for the Rio San José and Jemez River stream systems.
• Directs the Secretary of the Interior to execute the agreements and implement settlement terms, and authorizes funding for that purpose.
• Creates settlement trust funds to hold and manage funds for water infrastructure and Pueblo benefits.
• Defines and confirms specific Pueblo water rights, lands, allotments, and the scope of those rights under the settlements.
• Provides limited consent for New Mexico state courts to review certain Pueblo water-permit decisions on a closed administrative record.
• Requires state courts to give full faith and credit to Pueblo Water Code provisions and to certify many questions of Pueblo law to Pueblo courts.
• Does not broadly waive U.S. sovereign immunity and conditions federal liability on congressional appropriations.
• Affirms that the legislation controls over conflicting language in the negotiated agreements.