Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 260.
Introduced:Jan 24, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Christopher S. Murphy
Senator
Democratic
CT
Cosponsors
1
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Native Americans
Summary
This bill amends the 2010 Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement to improve implementation of water infrastructure projects on the Crow Reservation in Montana. It creates new accounts for the Crow Irrigation Project rehabilitation and municipal water infrastructure, extends the tribe exclusive hydropower development rights at Yellowtail Afterbay Dam by five years to 2030, and updates terminology and funding mechanisms.
Latest Action
Held at the desk.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill amends the 2010 Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement to improve implementation of water infrastructure projects on the Crow Reservation in Montana. It creates new accounts for the Crow Irrigation Project rehabilitation and municipal water infrastructure, extends the tribe exclusive hydropower development rights at Yellowtail Afterbay Dam by five years to 2030, and updates terminology and funding mechanisms.
Last updated: 1/4/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill revises the water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Crow Tribe of Montana and Montana.</p><p>The Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 ratified, authorized, and confirmed the water rights compact between the tribe and Montana. Among other provisions, this settlement act authorized the Bureau of Reclamation to plan, design and construct the following two major projects on the Crow Reservation: (1) the rehabilitation and improvement of the Crow Irrigation Project (CIP); and (2) the planning, design, and construction of the MR&I System (the municipal, rural, and industrial water system of the Crow Reservation).</p><p>Among other provisions, the bill revises the settlement act to</p><ul><li>replace references to the <em>MR&I System</em> with <em>MR&I Projects</em>; </li><li>establish a nontrust, interest-bearing account (to be known as the Crow CIP Implementation Account) to allow Reclamation to continue to work on the rehabilitation of the CIP; </li><li>create a new MR&I Projects Account, through which the tribe must use funds for activities related to water production, treatment, or delivery infrastructure; and</li><li>extend by five years (to 2030) the period during which the tribe has the exclusive right to construct hydropower facilities on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam in Montana.</li></ul>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Establishes Crow CIP Implementation Account for irrigation rehabilitation
Creates MR&I Projects Account for municipal water infrastructure
Extends Yellowtail Afterbay Dam hydropower rights to 2030
Updates terminology from MR&I System to MR&I Projects
Allows Bureau of Reclamation to continue CIP rehabilitation work
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
These amendments strengthen the federal commitment to Crow Tribe water rights and infrastructure development. For the tribe, improved irrigation and municipal water systems are essential for economic development and quality of life. The hydropower extension provides additional time to develop renewable energy resources. The bill represents continued implementation of federal trust responsibilities to tribal nations.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Native Americans
Related Subjects
Dams and canals
Government trust funds
Indian lands and resources rights
Montana
Water use and supply
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
240, 119th Congress (2025). "Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-240
