Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025

Bill Summary: Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025

Bill Number: HR 726

Session: 119th Congress

Jurisdiction: United States

Introduced: January 24, 2025

Sponsors: Rep. Troy Downing and Rep. Ryan Zinke

1. Purpose and Intent

The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025 is designed to refine and improve the implementation of the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010. The primary intent of the bill is to streamline the management of settlement funds, clarify the definition and funding of water infrastructure projects, and ensure the Crow Tribe has greater autonomy and financial flexibility in executing water rights settlements.

2. Key Provisions and Changes

Infrastructure and Project Management

• MR&I Projects: The bill updates the terminology from "System" to "Projects" regarding Municipal, Rural, and Industrial (MR&I) activities.
• Expanded Use of Funds: It explicitly allows funds from the MR&I Projects Account to be used for planning, permitting, designing, constructing, and repairing water production, treatment, and delivery infrastructure, as well as wastewater infrastructure and environmental compliance.
• Land Acquisition: Once the Secretary is notified that on-Reservation MR&I projects are complete, the Tribe is permitted to use any remaining funds in the account to purchase on-Reservation land that includes water rights.
• Tribal Control: The bill clarifies that the Crow Tribe retains title, control, and operation of any project constructed using these funds, and the Federal Government is not obligated to pay for the ongoing operation or maintenance of these projects.

Financial Management and Account Restructuring

• New Implementation Account: The bill establishes the Crow CIP (Capital Improvement Project) Implementation Account. This is a nontrust, interest-bearing account managed by the Secretary to carry out capital improvement projects.
• Fund Transfers: The Secretary is authorized to transfer funds from existing joint signature accounts (specifically those created in 2011 and 2012) into the newly established CIP Implementation Account and the MR&I Projects Account.
• Inflation Adjustments: The bill allows for funding amounts in the MR&I Projects Account to be adjusted based on the Bureau of Reclamation Construction Cost Index–Composite Trend to account for cost fluctuations since May 1, 2008.

Technical and Procedural Amendments

• Timeline Extension: The bill extends specific funding availability periods from 15 years to 20 years.
• Repeals and Redesignations: Section 406 of the original 2010 Act is repealed, and several other sections are redesignated and renumbered to accommodate the new account structures.

3. Who is Affected?

• The Crow Tribe: The Tribe gains clearer authority over infrastructure projects, expanded options for land acquisition, and updated financial mechanisms to manage settlement funds.
• The U.S. Department of the Interior (Secretary): The Secretary's role is shifted toward managing, investing, and distributing funds rather than strictly administering them.
• Bureau of Reclamation: Impacts the agency's role in indexing construction costs and overseeing the technical aspects of the settlement.

4. Timeline and Procedural Aspects

The bill was introduced on January 24, 2025, and has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. The creation of the new MR&I Projects Account is mandated to occur "as soon as practicable" following the enactment of the bill.