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S. 563: Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

119th Congress · introduced 2025-02-13 · Native Americans · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 428.

federal

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Official title

Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Plain summary

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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] · 1 cosponsors

Money: CBO cost estimate: S. 563, Ohkay Owingeh Rio Chama Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 (2026-03-19) No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-s563 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills