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S. 563119th CongressPlaced on the calendarLatest action Jun 4, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
The bill confirms a 2023 water rights settlement for Ohkay Owingeh pueblo and directs about $745 million in federal funding.
55-second read · 5 questions answered below
This bill approves a 2023 legal settlement recognizing Ohkay Owingeh's water rights to the Rio Chama river system, protecting those rights from loss due to non-use, and setting rules for using, sharing, or leasing the water, with leases capped at 99 years. It creates a trust fund and requires federal, state, and local contributions for water infrastructure, bosque restoration, and irrigation systems.
It directly affects Ohkay Owingeh tribal members, farmers using acequia irrigation ditches along the Rio Chama, the City of Espanola, and New Mexico state government.
The settlement resolves long-running litigation over Rio Chama water rights in exchange for the pueblo and federal government dropping related lawsuits and claims. If the settlement isn't fully certified by 2038, the agreement and its legal waivers expire and unused federal funds must be returned.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: it was placed on the Senate floor calendar, and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 428.