S. 953: Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement 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 | 2025-03-11 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] |
| Policy area | Native Americans |
| Cosponsors | 1 |
| Latest action | 2026-03-11 — Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. |
| Last updated | 2026-05-06 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-03-11):
Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in Arizona of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. It also provides funding for a water pipeline and three settlement trust funds.
Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the tribes, the United States, Arizona, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in Arizona (including with respect to the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River).
Additionally, the bill outlines the water rights of the tribes. For example, the bill allocates and assigns Colorado River water from Arizona's share to the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe.
The bill establishes and provides funding for an implementation fund account for the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design, and construct a pipeline to deliver water to the tribes.
Further, the bill establishes and provides funding for the Navajo Nation Water Settlement Trust Fund, the Hopi Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Water Settlement Trust Fund.
The bill also establishes a reservation consisting of approximately 5,400 acres of land in Arizona and Utah for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by ratifying and confirming the treaty entered into by the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
The bill outlines waivers, releases, and retention of claims by the tribes and the United States under the settlement agreement.
Cosponsors (1)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Ruben Gallego | D AZ (original cosponsor) 2025-03-11 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 953 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 953?
S. 953 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 953 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).