S. 564Heading to a voteFamily & community
Senate bill approves $685 million Zuni water rights settlement in New Mexico
Data as of July 16, 2026
S 564 confirms Zuni water rights and funds a $685 million trust for tribal water systems and land protections.55-second read · 5 questions answered below
Decoded
What does this do?
This bill approves a settlement confirming the Zuni Tribe's water rights in the Zuni River Stream System in New Mexico and shields those rights from loss through non-use. It creates a roughly $685 million trust fund for tribal water infrastructure, protects the Zuni Salt Lake by withdrawing about 92,000 acres from mining and development, and directs certain federal lands into trust for the Tribe.
Who does it affect?
It affects the Zuni Tribe, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the State of New Mexico, and other water users in the Zuni River basin, including individual landowners known as "Allottees." It does not affect other tribes' water rights or land claims.
Why does it matter?
In exchange for the funding and rights confirmation, the Tribe and federal government agree to drop related legal claims once court approval and full funding occur. Nearby residents and water users could see changes to land use and water management rules in the affected area.
What does it cost, and who pays?
- $685 million trust fund total
- federal government pays most
- New Mexico contributes a small share
Where does it stand?
- Introduced
- Senate committee
- Senate vote — You are here
- House
- President's desk
Right now: it's headed for a Senate floor vote. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
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Official title
Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
- Introduced:
- February 13, 2025
- Latest action:
- June 4, 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 429.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Three steps: where you stand, your script, the call.