Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
Where it stands
- Introduced1/24/25
- Passed SenatePassed 12/11/25
- HousePassed 9/14/26
- PresidentSigned 10/15/26
- LawPublic Law 119-122
Passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 11, 2025. Passed the House by voice vote on September 14, 2026. Became Public Law 119-122 on October 15, 2026.
Passed by voice vote or unanimous consent — no individual positions were recorded.
Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
This bill revises the water rights settlement agreement entered into by the Crow Tribe of Montana and Montana.
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).
Among other provisions, the bill revises the settlement act to
replace references to the MR&I System with MR&I Projects;
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;
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
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.
What happens next
Became Public Law 119-122.
All actions (23)
- 1/24/25Introduced in Senate
- 1/24/25Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 3/5/25Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 11/4/25Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-93.
- 11/4/25Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 260.
- 12/11/25Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 12/11/25Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8691-8692; text: CR S8691-8692)
- 12/15/25Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 12/15/25Received in the House.
- 12/15/25Held at the desk.
- 9/14/26Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 9/14/26Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5570-5571)
- 9/14/26DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 240.
- 9/14/26Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5570)
- 9/14/26On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5570)
- 9/14/26Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 9/15/26Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
- 9/24/26Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 240 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5020)
- 9/24/26Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 240 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5020)
- 9/28/26Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 10/5/26Presented to President.
- 10/15/26Signed by President.
- 10/15/26Became Public Law No: 119-122.