Sponsors (3)
Official title: To approve the settlement of water rights claims of the Zuni Indian Tribe in the Zuni River Stream System in the State of New Mexico, to protect the Zuni Salt Lake, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 18, 2025 by Gabriel Vasquez · Last progress February 18, 2025
The bill delivers major federal funding, clarified and protected water rights, and cultural/environmental protections for the Zuni Tribe, but does so at substantial federal cost while narrowing some historical claims, excluding certain allotment interests, imposing land‑use restrictions, and increasing federal oversight.
The Zuni Tribe and residents of tribal lands receive $655.5M (plus $29.5M O&M) and an associated Trust Fund to build, repair, and operate water infrastructure, improving drinking water and irrigation.
The bill settles and quantifies the Tribe's water rights and prevents loss by non‑use, reducing litigation uncertainty for the Tribe and non‑Indian water users and clarifying long‑term water allocations.
The Zuni Tribe gains legal trust title to the Tribal Acquisition Area and water rights held in trust, strengthening tribal control over culturally important lands and water.
The federal government must appropriate $655.5M (plus $29.5M O&M), increasing federal spending that falls on taxpayers or requires spending offsets.
The Tribe is required to waive many past claims and damages up to the Enforceability Date, limiting the Tribe's ability to recover historical harms.
The Secretary has broad authority over plan approvals and amendments, which can limit tribal autonomy and subject tribal withdrawals and Trust Fund actions to federal oversight.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Ratifies a settlement quantifying Zuni Tribe water rights, establishes a trust fund, directs Interior to implement the agreement, and withdraws and protects Zuni Salt Lake sanctuary lands.
Establishes, ratifies, and directs implementation of a negotiated settlement that quantifies and protects the Zuni Tribe’s water rights in the Zuni River System, creates a Tribal Settlement Trust Fund, and authorizes funding and Interior Department actions needed to carry out the agreement. It also designates and withdraws federal lands around Zuni Salt Lake as a protected sanctuary, sets land‑use and water‑use restrictions, and requires Bureau of Land Management management in consultation with the Tribe to protect water quantity, quality, and cultural resources.