Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4890
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-07T04:53:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4890: Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation amends the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to create dedicated funding mechanisms within the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund. It aims to support ongoing and future obligations related to Indian water rights settlements approved by Congress.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of Subaccounts: Two new subaccounts are created in the Fund:
- The Operations, Maintenance, Repair, and Ongoing Obligations Subaccount.
- The New and Continuing Settlements Subaccount.
- Funding Deposits:
- $45,000,000 is deposited annually into the first subaccount from October 1, 2026, through October 1, 2035.
- $250,000,000 is deposited annually into the second subaccount during the same period.
- Uses of Funds:
- The first subaccount supports transfers for water delivery, operations, maintenance, repair, and related obligations under specific existing settlements, such as those for the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Animas-La Plata Project, Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects, Snake River Water Rights, and Hualapai Tribe.
- The second subaccount funds transfers for any Indian water rights settlements authorized by Congress, with the Secretary of the Interior determining amounts, sequence, and timing to complete settlements efficiently.
- Conforming Amendment: Updates the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act to prohibit use of certain funds from the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces mandatory annual deposits into subaccounts without requiring further congressional appropriations.
- Expands the scope of the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund by separating funding for operational obligations from new settlements.
- Removes restrictions on using certain funds for the White Mountain Apache settlement by altering prior limitations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Provides the Department of the Interior with reliable, long-term funding streams for settlement-related transfers, potentially reducing reliance on annual budget requests.
- Citizens: Supports water rights and infrastructure obligations for affected Tribal communities, which may enhance water access and related services.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federally recognized Indian Tribes with approved water rights settlements.
- The Department of the Interior and Secretary of the Treasury, responsible for fund management and transfers.
- Communities and projects tied to the listed settlements, such as the Ak-Chin Indian Community and Hualapai Tribe.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Ensures compliance with existing settlement agreements by creating dedicated accounts, potentially strengthening the federal government's ability to meet treaty and statutory obligations.
- Limits use of funds to discretionary appropriations or Tribal trust funds established by Congress, maintaining congressional oversight over settlement authorizations.
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
- 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (6 pages)