Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4731
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-29T21:24:47Z
AI-Generated Summary
Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026
Purpose This legislation amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to create dedicated subaccounts within the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund. It aims to ensure reliable funding for existing and future Indian water rights settlements approved by Congress, covering operations, maintenance, and new obligations through 2035.
Key Provisions
- Operations, Maintenance, Repair, and Ongoing Obligations Subaccount: Establishes a subaccount that receives $45 million annually from October 1, 2026, through October 1, 2035, for transfers to support specific ongoing obligations under named settlements, including the Ak-Chin Indian Community water rights, Animas-La Plata Project, Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects, Snake River Water Rights Act, and Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement.
- New and Continuing Settlements Subaccount: Establishes a subaccount that receives $250 million annually during the same period for transfers to satisfy U.S. obligations under any congressionally approved Indian water rights settlement, with the Secretary of the Interior determining amounts, sequence, and timing to complete settlements efficiently.
- Funding Mechanism: Authorizes deposits from the Treasury without further appropriation or fiscal year limits.
- Customs User Fees Extension: Extends certain customs user fees under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 until September 30, 2035, to support the new funding.
- Conforming Amendment: Updates the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act to prohibit use of the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund for certain purposes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds two new subaccounts to Section 70101 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (25 U.S.C. 149), expanding the original fund's structure for targeted uses.
- Modifies prior restrictions in the White Mountain Apache Tribe settlement to align with the new funding approach.
- Extends the expiration date of customs user fees, providing a revenue source for the subaccounts.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for the Department of the Interior and Treasury in managing deposits and transfers; supports the Bureau of Reclamation and other entities involved in water delivery and settlement implementation.
- Citizens and Tribes: Provides stable funding for water infrastructure and rights fulfillment for affected Indian tribes, potentially reducing litigation risks and improving water access.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Indian tribes with existing or future water rights settlements (e.g., Ak-Chin, Hualapai, and others referenced).
- Federal agencies, primarily the Department of the Interior and Treasury Department.
- Entities involved in customs fee collection and water project operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Ensures fulfillment of federal trust obligations to tribes through mandatory transfers without annual appropriations, potentially strengthening treaty and settlement enforcement.
- Uses indexing for adjustments in transfer amounts to account for inflation or other factors.
- Raises no apparent constitutional issues but centralizes discretion with the Secretary of the Interior for allocation decisions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-10 — PDF (7 pages)