Elijah Crane (R-AZ)
Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 2 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, known as the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, aims to resolve water rights claims for the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Arizona. It authorizes a water rights settlement and directs the construction of the Tu nl[[nichoh Water Infrastructure Project, including a pipeline from the C.C. Cragin Dam and Reservoir and a new drinking water system. The Act provides for mandatory appropriations to fund these infrastructure projects and a settlement trust fund. It also includes provisions for land to be taken into trust for the benefit of the Nation and addresses water availability for Yavapai County. Additionally, the legislation establishes rules for environmental compliance, land transfers, and legal limitations.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +8
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill settles long-standing water rights and provides significant funding for infrastructure, land acquisition, and autonomy over water assets for the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
- Scored +5
Does this invest in rural communities?
The bill funds critical water infrastructure projects specifically for the Yavapai-Apache Nation to support rural water security.
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Improved water infrastructure and addressing drinking water system accounts can help stabilize local resources for lower-income community members.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Resolution of Water Rights Claims: The bill seeks to "resolve, fully and finally, all claims to rights to water" for the Yavapai-Apache Nation (Section 2(1)).
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Water Infrastructure Development: The authorization of the Tu nl[[nichoh Water Infrastructure Project will provide a Cragin-Verde Pipeline Project to deliver water and a YAN Drinking Water System Project to treat and distribute it (Section 6(a)).
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Water Security for the Nation: The YAN Drinking Water System Project is designed to include a surface water treatment facility capable of treating significant amounts of water daily (Section 6(c)(3)(A)).
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Land Acquisition for the Nation: The bill directs the Secretary to accept the transfer of title to specific lands to be held in trust for the benefit of the Yavapai-Apache Nation (Section 13(b)).
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Financial Support for Tribal Projects: The Act establishes a Trust Fund that the Yavapai-Apache Nation can use for various purposes, including water projects, wastewater projects, and watershed restoration (Section 8(g)).
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Water Availability for Yavapai County: Up to 1,639.74 acre-feet of water per year may be made available from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir for municipal and domestic uses in Yavapai County, Arizona, at no cost to the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project, provided water users contract with the project by December 31, 2029 (Section 17(a)).
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Land Transfer for Camp Verde: The Forest Service is directed to work with the Town of Camp Verde to transfer title to up to 40 acres of Forest Service land located at the intersection of Interstate 17 and General Crook Trail for public safety and other municipal purposes (Section 17(c)).
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Exemption from Acreage Limitations: The Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 and other acreage limitation or full-cost pricing provisions will not apply to individuals or entities solely based on receiving benefits under this Act, executing the Agreement, or using/storing CAP water (Section 16(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Costs Borne by Beneficiaries: After the Date of Substantial Completion, the Yavapai-Apache Nation and other beneficiaries are responsible for the costs of care, operation, and maintenance of the Cragin-Verde Pipeline Project on a pro rata basis (Section 6(b)(6)(B)).
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Waiver of Legal Claims: The bill requires the Yavapai-Apache Nation and the United States to execute a waiver and release of various past, present, and future claims regarding water rights and injury to water rights (Section 11(a)).
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Financial Responsibility for Drinking Water Systems: The Yavapai-Apache Nation assumes responsibility for the care, operation, and maintenance of the YAN Drinking Water System Project once construction is complete (Section 6(c)(6)(A)).
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Potential Loss of Funding if Deadlines are Missed: If the Secretary fails to publish a statement of findings by June 30, 2035, the Act is repealed and unexpended funds revert to the Treasury (Section 15(b)(1)).
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Liability Restrictions on Legal Actions: The bill limits the ability of parties to an agreement or landowners/water users in the Gila River Watershed to seek monetary damages, court costs, or attorney fees when bringing certain legal actions against the Yavapai-Apache Nation or the United States (Section 16(a)).
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Financial Risk Due to Funding Shortages: Under the antideficiency clause, the United States is not liable for failing to carry out obligations authorized by this Act if Congress does not provide adequate appropriations (Section 16(b)).
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 settles long-standing water rights and provides significant funding for infrastructure, land acquisition, and autonomy over water assets for the Yavapai-Apache Nation. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improved water infrastructure and addressing drinking water system accounts can help stabilize local resources for lower-income community members. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill facilitates land transfers for municipal purposes in the Town of Camp Verde.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill funds critical water infrastructure projects specifically for the Yavapai-Apache Nation to support rural water security. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill includes provisions to protect existing flows of the Verde River and regulates water storage through underground facilities.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill authorizes significant infrastructure projects and water rights that provide economic stability for the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual expenditure reports from the Yavapai-Apache Nation regarding the use of trust funds.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The expansion of tribal land holdings through trust transfers and land transfers to the Town of Camp Verde can support future community development and housing needs.
- 9/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/26/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Juan CiscomaniRepublican · Arizona
Greg StantonDemocrat · Arizona