Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 75.
This Act ratifies and implements a 2007 water-rights settlement between the Tule River Tribe, downstream water users, and the United States.
It confirms a Tribal Water Right of up to 5,828 acre-feet per year, establishes a Trust Fund ($518M for projects, $50M for OM&R), directs transfers of specified Federal and tribally owned lands into trust, and requires judicial approval of a final decree and agreed Operation Rules.
The Act includes waivers and releases of many historical water claims, environmental compliance requirements, cost-indexing adjustments, and conditions that make the settlement effective only after funding and court approval.
Narrow, negotiated settlement with clear implementation steps and dedicated funding improves prospects, but required appropriations and possible local disputes add uncertainty.
How solid the drafting looks.
Progressives emphasize tribal sovereignty, funding, and land restoration.
Progressives emphasize tribal sovereignty, funding, and land restoration.
Likely broadly supportive because the bill secures tribal water rights, substantial federal funding, and land restoration into trust.
The settlement advances tribal self-determination and infrastructure funding while requiring environmental compliance.
Views the bill as a pragmatic settlement resolving long-standing disputes with clear procedures, funding, and judicial oversight.
Sees tradeoffs between finality and fiscal cost, and wants safeguards on implementation and cost control.
Likely opposed or skeptical due to substantial federal spending, transfers of public lands into trust, and perceived expansion of federal-tribal privileges.
Views settlement as federal overreach with fiscal and local impacts.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Narrow, negotiated settlement with clear implementation steps and dedicated funding improves prospects, but required appropriations and possible local disputes add uncertainty.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize tribal sovereignty, funding, and land restoration.
Narrow, negotiated settlement with clear implementation steps and dedicated funding improves prospects, but required appropriations and pos…
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