Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026

Ben Ray Luján

Democrat · NM · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Martin Heinrich (D-NM)Original· 2026-06-10

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

2026-06-10

Source: Congress.gov

The bill would modify how money is distributed from a fund created to help settle water rights disputes involving Native American tribes, by creating separate accounts within that fund for different purposes or tribes. This change would give Congress and tribal nations more control over how settlement money is allocated and spent. The proposal affects Native American communities, federal agencies managing water resources, and states involved in water rights negotiations with tribes.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4731 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4731 To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to establish subaccounts in the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 10, 2026 Mr. Lujan (for himself and Mr. Heinrich) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to establish subaccounts in the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. INDIAN WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT COMPLETION FUND SUBACCOUNTS. (a) In General.--Section 70101 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (25 U.S.C. 149) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(e) Operations, Maintenance, Repair, and Ongoing Obligations Subaccount.-- ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Fund a subaccount, to be known as the `Operations, Maintenance, Repair, and Ongoing Obligations Subaccount' (referred to in this subsection as the `Subaccount'). ``(2) Deposits.-- ``(A) In general.--On the later of October 1, 2026, and the date of enactment of this subsection, and on each October 1 thereafter through October 1, 2035, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the Subaccount $45,000,000. ``(B) Availability.--Amounts deposited in the Subaccount under subparagraph (A) shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation, for the uses described in paragraph (3). ``(3) Uses.--Amounts deposited in the Subaccount under paragraph (2)(A) shall be used by the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation, for transfers to funds or accounts authorized to receive discretionary appropriations, including Tribal trust funds established by an Act of Congress, to satisfy the obligations of the United States with respect to certain Indian water rights settlements under the following: ``(A) The water delivery and operation, maintenance, repair, and related provisions of Public Law 98-530 (98 Stat. 2698), relating to the water rights of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. ``(B) The water delivery and operations, maintenance, repair, and related provisions of the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-585; 102 Stat. 2973), relating to the Animas-La Plata Project (as defined in section 3 of that Act (102 Stat. 2973)). ``(C) Section 10603(g) of the Northwestern New Mexico Rural Water Projects Act (Public Law 111-11; 123 Stat. 1387). ``(D) The water acquisition provisions of the Snake River Water Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-447; 118 Stat. 3431), including to carry out the Snake River Flow Component described in section 5(a) of that Act (118 Stat. 3433). ``(E) The Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-349; 136 Stat. 6225), including the Hualapai Water Trust Fund Account established under section 6(a)(1) of that Act (136 Stat. 6234). ``(f) New and Continuing Settlements Subaccount.-- ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Fund a subaccount, to be known as the `New and Continuing Settlements Subaccount' (referred to in this subsection as the `Subaccount'). ``(2) Deposits.-- ``(A) In general.--On the later of October 1, 2026, and the date of enactment of this subsection, and on each October 1 thereafter through October 1, 2035, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall…

deposit in the Subaccount $250,000,000. ``(B) Availability.--Amounts deposited in the Subaccount under subparagraph (A) shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior, without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation, for the uses described in paragraph (3). ``(3) Uses.--Subject to paragraph (4), amounts deposited in the Subaccount under paragraph (2)(A) shall be used by the Secretary of the Interior for transfers to funds or accounts authorized to receive discretionary appropriations, including Tribal trust funds established by an Act of Congress, or to satisfy other obligations of the United States identified by the Secretary of the Interior, under any Indian water rights settlement approved and authorized by an Act of Congress. ``(4) Scope of transfers.-- ``(A) In general.--Transfers authorized under paragraph (3) shall be made in such amounts as are determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be appropriate to satisfy the obligations of the United States, including appropriate indexing, pursuant to the applicable Indian water rights settlement. ``(B) Sequence and timing.--The Secretary of the Interior shall have the discretion to determine the sequence and timing of transfers from the Subaccount under paragraph (3) to substantially complete the eligible Indian water rights settlements as expeditiously as practicable.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 312(e) of the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010 (Public Law 111- 291; 124 Stat. 3095; 136 Stat. 6184) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following: ``(5) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any amounts made available under paragraph (2)(B) shall not be made available from the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund established by section 10501(a) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (43 U.S.C. 407(a)).''. SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CUSTOMS USER FEES. Section 13031(j)(3) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(j)(3)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``December 31, 2031'' and inserting ``September 30, 2035''; and (2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``December 31, 2031'' and inserting ``September 30, 2035''. <all>

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