US HB1322

Summary of H.R. 1322 - Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act of 2025

• Settles water rights claims for four New Mexico Pueblos in two stream systems: Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna in the Rio San José Stream System, and Pueblos of Jemez and Zia in the Rio Jemez Stream System, resolving longstanding litigation pending in state and federal courts.

• Authorizes $1.34 billion in federal funding: $850 million for the Rio San José settlement ($296M for Acoma, $464M for Laguna, $45M for joint Acomita Reservoir, plus operations/maintenance and feasibility funds) and $490 million for the Rio Jemez settlement ($290M for Jemez, $200M for Zia), with amounts adjusted for construction cost inflation from October 1, 2021.

• Establishes settlement trust funds managed by the Secretary of the Interior for each Pueblo, with funds available for water infrastructure, water rights acquisition, watershed protection, agricultural support, and operations/maintenance of water systems.

• Requires New Mexico to contribute approximately $56 million across both settlements for local projects, acequia improvements, and mitigation of impairment to non-Pueblo groundwater rights, plus enact legislation allowing 99-year water rights leases.

• Pueblo water rights held in trust cannot be forfeited through non-use, abandonment, or other operation of law, and Pueblos waive certain historical claims against the United States and other parties in exchange for the settlement benefits.