Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
U.S. Congress · S563 ·
Progression
Timing in context
Primary sponsor's contributions received (same period)
Adjacency in time is shown for context; it is not evidence of cause. Funded ≠ false — see the methodology.
What the bill says
Introduced 2025-02-13. Latest action: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 428.
Summary (plain-language)
Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of the pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh. It also establishes and provides funding for a settlement trust fund. Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Rio Chama Stream System in New Mexico. The bill establishes and provides funding for the Ohkay Owingeh Water Rights Settlement Trust Fund. This trust fund may only be used for five specified purposes, including for activities related to water production, treatment, or delivery infrastructure. The bill also (1) specifies the water rights of the pueblo; and (2) outlines waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the pueblo and the United States.
Sponsors
- Martin Heinrich (primary)
- Ben Ray Luján
Text versions
What analysts say
CBO cost estimates
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S. 563, Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
— 2026-03-19
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on March 5, 2025
Full estimate published at cbo.gov; it will appear here once an archived or committee-report copy is available.
Committee reports
What politicians say
No linked claims or utterances yet — no one on record has cited this measure to justify a public argument.
Action History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2026-06-04 | Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-124. |
| 2026-06-04 | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 428. |
| 2025-03-05 | Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. |
| 2025-02-13 | Introduced in Senate |
| 2025-02-13 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. |