S. 562: Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2025-02-13 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] |
| Policy area | Native Americans |
| Cosponsors | 1 |
| Latest action | 2025-03-05 — Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. |
| Last updated | 2025-12-09 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-02-13):
Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of (1) the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, and (2) the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia. It also establishes and provides funding for settlement trust funds.
Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Pueblo of Acoma, the Pueblo of Laguna, the United States, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Rio San José Stream System in New Mexico.
With respect to the water settlement for the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Pueblo of Acoma Settlement Trust Fund, the Pueblo of Laguna Settlement Trust Fund, and the Acomita Reservoir Works Trust Fund.
Additionally, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Pueblo of Jemez, the Pueblo of Zia, the United States, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Jemez River Stream System in New Mexico.
With respect to the water settlement for the Pueblos of Jemez and Zia, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Pueblo of Jemez Settlement Trust Fund and the Pueblo of Zia Settlement Trust Fund.
For both of these agreements, the bill (1) specifies the water rights of the pueblos; and (2) outlines waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the pueblos and the United States.
Cosponsors (1)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Ben Ray Luján | D NM (original cosponsor) 2025-02-13 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 562 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 562?
S. 562 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 562 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).