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H.R. 1444In committee
Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
Introduced: Feb 18, 2025
Latest action date: Feb 18, 2025
Latest development
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Your view
- Congress
- 119th Congress
- Introduced
- Feb 18, 2025
- Recorded roll calls
- 0
Status detail: The most advanced recorded stage is committee consideration.
Plain-language overview
What this bill does
Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
This bill recognizes and settles certain water rights claims in New Mexico of the pueblo of Zuni and establishes and provides funding for a related settlement trust fund. It also requires federal actions related to the Zuni Salt Lake in New Mexico.
Specifically, the bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by Zuni, New Mexico, and others, thus satisfying claims to water rights in the Zuni River Stream System in New Mexico.
The bill establishes and provides funding for the Zuni Tribe Settlement Trust Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill.
Additionally, the bill (1) specifies the water rights of the pueblo; and (2) outlines waivers, releases, and retentions of claims by the pueblo and the United States.
The bill also withdraws certain federal land in New Mexico from mineral development. The bill reserves this federal land for the following three purposes: (1) the protection of the Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary, (2) the protection of the quality and quantity of the Zuni Salt Lake's water supply, and (3) the protection of any cultural resources associated with the Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary. The Bureau of Land Management must manage this land.
The Department of the Interior must take certain land surrounding the Zuni Salt Lake into trust for the benefit of Zuni.
Civixly topics
What this legislation is about
Civixly topics make federal and state legislation comparable. They are derived from the official CRS policy area and legislative subjects.
Official CRS policy area
Native Americans
View 11 official legislative subjects
Federal-Indian relationsGeography and mappingGovernment information and archivesGovernment trust fundsIndian claimsIndian lands and resources rightsLakes and riversLand transfersLand use and conservationNew MexicoWater use and supply
Committee activity
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Official committee record ↗
Amendments
Proposed changes to this measure, with their latest official outcome or action from Congress.gov.
No amendments are listed for this measure.
Checked against Congress.gov Sep 15, 2026.
Action timeline
Newest action first. Action language comes from the official Congress.gov record.
View full action timeline3 actions
Introduced in House
IntroReferralLibrary of CongressReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
IntroReferralHouse floor actionsIntroduced in House
IntroReferralLibrary of Congress
Roll-call votes
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