Elijah Crane (R-AZ)
San Carlos Irrigation Project Divestiture Act of 2026
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer the electric transmission and distribution system of the San Carlos Irrigation Project (SCIP) away from federal ownership. The transfer aims to replace the current system, which has faced challenges like expensive and unreliable services for residential customers due to federal procedures and old infrastructure. A group of not-for-profit utilities has established principles to take over the system and ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective power. The bill also allows the Secretary of the Interior to contract with Indian Tribes or other entities for the sale, operation, maintenance, repairs, or relocation of other Bureau of Indian Affairs electric utility systems. Additionally, the Secretary must coordinate the transfer plan with affected federal, state, tribal, local, and private entities.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill supports the Gila River Indian Community and the San Carlos Apache Tribe in achieving greater self-determination and economic self-sufficiency regarding utility management.
- Scored +6
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Approximately 10,000 residential customers across rural counties in Arizona will benefit from a transition away from outdated federal management to more reliable local utility providers.
- Scored +6
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill authorizes the transfer of the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system to non-profit utilities to improve power reliability and support long-term regional development in rural Arizona.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this give the federal government more power?
The legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to divest federal ownership of the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system, reducing federal control over local utility operations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(b)(3) and Section 4(a): These provisions authorize the transfer of the SCIP electric system to a group of not-for-profit utilities to support the long-term provision of safe, reliable, and cost-effective power. This could benefit about 10,000 residential customers who currently experience expensive and unreliable services under federal management.
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Section 2(b)(5): This provision aims to assist the Gila River Indian Community and the San Carlos Apache Tribe in their efforts to achieve greater self-determination and economic self-sufficiency. This is a positive outcome for the tribal members as it gives them a greater role in managing their own resources.
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Section 5(a): This section authorizes the Secretary to contract with an Indian Tribe or other agreed-upon entity for the sale, operation, maintenance, repairs, or relocation of Government-owned BIA electric utility systems. This benefits the served Indian Tribes by giving them more control over their local utility systems.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 4(c)(1): This provision states that the entity or entities receiving the SCIP electric system will be responsible for the administrative costs associated with the transfer. Depending on how these entities handle these expenses, these transfer costs could potentially be passed down as financial burdens to the local customers.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill supports the Gila River Indian Community and the San Carlos Apache Tribe in achieving greater self-determination and economic self-sufficiency regarding utility management. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Approximately 10,000 residential customers across rural counties in Arizona will benefit from a transition away from outdated federal management to more reliable local utility providers. Would farmers be better off under this? — The legislation supports the San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District and associated agricultural water users by facilitating better-managed electrical power for irrigation. Would business owners be better off under this? — Local commercial and business users are expected to benefit from more reliable and cost-effective long-term power arrangements following the divestiture. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The transfer aims to replace expensive and unreliable federal electric service with cost-effective power managed by non-profit utilities, benefiting residential customers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Transferring the utility system to non-profit entities is intended to provide more reliable and cost-effective electricity for residential customers in the service area.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill authorizes the transfer of the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system to non-profit utilities to improve power reliability and support long-term regional development in rural Arizona.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — By transferring federal electric systems to local and tribal utility entities, the bill empowers local and state-level management of infrastructure. Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to divest federal ownership of the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system, reducing federal control over local utility operations.
- 10/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House