YVN Summary
\n\nHomes in three Arizona tribal nations would get piped drinking water. A new pipeline would carry treated water from Lake Powell. The Navajo Nation would get up to 7,100 acre-feet a year. Navajo communities would take 6,750 of that, and the San Juan Southern Paiute 350. The Hopi Tribe would get up to 3,076. The federal government would pay $5.14 billion for the deal. About $1.72 billion would build the pipeline. The other $3.42 billion would go into three tribal trust funds. The pipeline would have to be mostly finished by December 31, 2040.\n\nIn exchange, the three tribes would give up their water claims for good. That covers past and future claims against Arizona, other tribes, and private water users. It also drops claims against the United States. Those include claims over its past failure to build water systems or fix dams. The deal only starts once two state courts approve it and the money is deposited. If that does not happen by June 30, 2035, the law would be repealed. The money would then go back to the Treasury.\n\nThe tribes would gain firm rights to Colorado River water. The Navajo Nation would hold 44,700 acre-feet a year from the Upper Basin. The Hopi Tribe would hold 2,300. Neither could lose those rights by not using them. Both could lease water they do not need to Arizona cities and farms. They would keep all of that money. Leases off the reservation could run up to 100 years. For the first 20 years, the two tribes would leave 17,050 acre-feet a year in Lake Powell.\n\nA separate section would create a reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. About 5,400 acres inside the Navajo Reservation would be held in trust for that tribe. It would gain full authority there, and the Navajo Nation would lose it. Both tribes agreed to this in a treaty signed in 2000. This section would take effect right away. It would stand even if the rest of the law is repealed.
","status":"COMMITTEE_CONSIDERATION","topics":["GOVERNMENT_OPERATIONS"],"introducedAt":"2025-03-11T00:00:00+00:00","latestActionAt":"2025-03-11T00:00:00+00:00","congressGovUrl":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2025","accountabilityFlags":{"your_money":["↑ Piped drinking water for tribal homes — due by 2040","↓ Cash payments to members — no per-person share of settlement money","↓ Community water projects delayed — half of tribal funds held in reserve"],"environment":["↑ Water left in Lake Powell — 17,050 acre-feet yearly for 20 years","↓ Environmental review of the settlement signing — exempt by law"],"civil_liberties":["↓ Tribes' future water claims — given up forever under the deal","↓ Claims against the U.S. — past water system failures dropped forever","↑ Neighbors' right to sue the tribes — only over this water deal","↓ Navajo landowners' path to federal court — tribal appeals first"],"corporate_benefits":["↑ Arizona water users — permanently shielded from tribal water claims"],"targeted_provisions":["↑ New Paiute reservation — 5,400 acres carved from Navajo land"],"transparency_accountability":["↑ Yearly reports on tribal water use — filed with Arizona each March","↓ Federal tracking of tribal lease money — none required by law","↑ Deadline on the settlement — must be final by June 30, 2035"]},"tldr":"Spends $5.14 billion to pipe Colorado River water to Navajo, Hopi, and Paiute homes — tribes drop their water claims for good.","summaryStandard":"v2","flagExplainers":{"your_money":["The Bureau of Reclamation would build the pipeline from Lake Powell. It would serve Navajo and Hopi communities. Most of it must be done by December 31, 2040. The tribes and the Interior Secretary can agree to more time.","The trust fund money could not be split among tribal members. It can only pay for water projects and their upkeep. It can also pay for farm water savings and land buys.","Half of the Navajo and Hopi trust funds would be held back at first. The hold lasts until Reclamation finishes a design and cost estimate. That reserve is there in case the pipeline costs more than $1.72 billion."],"environment":["The Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe would set aside part of their river water. It would sit in Lake Powell for 20 years to help the river. The tribes would be paid for leaving it there.","Signing the deal would not count as a major federal action. So it needs no study of harm to the land or water. The pipeline itself would still get a full review."],"civil_liberties":["Once the deal takes effect, the tribes could no longer claim more water in Arizona. That holds for their members too. They could still go to court to enforce the settlement itself.","The tribes would drop old claims against the United States. Those cover water systems never built and dam safety work never done. They also cover harm to hunting, fishing, and cultural sites from lost water.","Landowners and water users along the Little Colorado and Gila rivers gain a right. They could name a tribe in a suit about the settlement. They could not ask for money, court costs, or lawyer fees.","Navajo allottees are individual Indians who hold trust land. They would have to use the Navajo Nation's own water appeals first. The Nation must build that appeal system. The Interior Secretary must approve it."],"corporate_benefits":["Farms, cities, utilities, and companies across Arizona would gain a shield. The three tribes could no longer sue them over water rights. The shield covers old claims and future ones, with no end date."],"targeted_provisions":["A water bill would also settle a land dispute. The San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe would get about 5,400 acres in trust. It would hold full authority over that land. The Navajo Nation holds it today and agreed in a treaty signed in 2000."],"transparency_accountability":["The Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe would report to Arizona every March. They would list how much water they took, stored, and leased. They would also put meters at each point where they draw water. Reports start the year after the deal takes effect.","Money the tribes earn from leasing water is theirs alone. The United States would have no duty to watch or account for it.","The Interior Secretary must publish findings that every condition is met. One condition is that all $5.14 billion is deposited. If that slips past June 30, 2035, the law is repealed. The money would return to the Treasury."]},"flagValence":{"your_money":["good","contested","contested"],"environment":["contested","contested"],"civil_liberties":["contested","contested","contested","contested"],"corporate_benefits":["contested"],"targeted_provisions":["contested"],"transparency_accountability":["good","contested","contested"]},"needsResummary":false,"displaySummaryHtml":null,"rawStatusText":"Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.","chamber":"HOUSE","policyArea":"Native Americans","legislativeSubjects":["Advisory bodies","Arizona","Community life and organization","Dams and canals","Federal-Indian relations","Geography and mapping","Government information and archives","Government studies and investigations","Government trust funds","Indian claims","Indian lands and resources rights","Indian social and development programs","Interest, dividends, interest rates","Lakes and rivers","Licensing and registrations","New Mexico","Utah","Water resources funding","Water storage"],"lawStatus":null,"lawNumber":null,"latestActionText":"Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.","latestTextVersion":"Introduced in House","textVersionUsed":null,"dateAdded":"2026-05-12T00:00:00+00:00","summarizedAt":"2026-08-09T00:09:22+00:00","recordId":"fb29de64-7162-49ae-ac9a-67a4f6c0dbc7","feedIdentityKey":"119/hr/2025","websiteBillId":"HR-2025","yourvoiceSummary":"Homes in three Arizona tribal nations would get piped drinking water. A new pipeline would carry treated water from Lake Powell. The Navajo Nation would get up to 7,100 acre-feet a year. Navajo communities would take 6,750 of that, and the San Juan Southern Paiute 350. The Hopi Tribe would get up to 3,076. The federal government would pay $5.14 billion for the deal. About $1.72 billion would build the pipeline. The other $3.42 billion would go into three tribal trust funds. The pipeline would have to be mostly finished by December 31, 2040.\n\nIn exchange, the three tribes would give up their water claims for good. That covers past and future claims against Arizona, other tribes, and private water users. It also drops claims against the United States. Those include claims over its past failure to build water systems or fix dams. The deal only starts once two state courts approve it and the money is deposited. If that does not happen by June 30, 2035, the law would be repealed. The money would then go back to the Treasury.\n\nThe tribes would gain firm rights to Colorado River water. The Navajo Nation would hold 44,700 acre-feet a year from the Upper Basin. The Hopi Tribe would hold 2,300. Neither could lose those rights by not using them. Both could lease water they do not need to Arizona cities and farms. They would keep all of that money. Leases off the reservation could run up to 100 years. For the first 20 years, the two tribes would leave 17,050 acre-feet a year in Lake Powell.\n\nA separate section would create a reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. About 5,400 acres inside the Navajo Reservation would be held in trust for that tribe. It would gain full authority there, and the Navajo Nation would lose it. Both tribes agreed to this in a treaty signed in 2000. This section would take effect right away. It would stand even if the rest of the law is repealed.","updatedAt":"2026-10-25T00:47:07.71674+00:00"}