Steve Daines (R-MT)
Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Became Public Law No: 119-122.
Became law
Passed both chambers and was signed by the President, or became law without a signature.
Nothing more in Congress: it is law. When it takes effect depends on the dates written into it — some parts start at once, others a year or more later.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Passed House voice vote
- To President
- Became Law
No one's position on it was recorded: the Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote), and the House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together).
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025. It makes changes to the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010. The legislation updates definitions and repeals the old MR&I System. It creates a new MR&I Projects Account to manage and distribute funds for the Tribe. The bill also details how the Tribe can use these funds for water and wastewater infrastructure. Finally, it extends a timeframe related to the Yellowtail Dam in Montana and makes other technical corrections.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +10
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
Directly provides funding and legal mechanisms for the Crow Tribe's water rights and infrastructure.
- Scored +8
Would farmers be better off under this?
Water rights and infrastructure are critical for agricultural productivity.
- Scored +8
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Focuses specifically on improving rural water infrastructure.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Better Infrastructure for the Tribe: Under Section 2(c), the bill creates an MR&I Projects Account. The Tribe can use these funds to plan, design, construct, and repair water, treatment, delivery, and wastewater infrastructure, ensuring better access to domestic and municipal water resources.
-
Tribal Ownership and Control: Section 2(c) adds a provision stating that title to, control over, and operation of any project built using funds from the MR&I Projects Account will remain with the Tribe. This gives the Tribe direct authority over their own water facilities.
-
Land Purchases: According to Section 2(c), once the Tribe finishes their on-Reservation MR&I projects and notifies the Secretary, they are allowed to use any remaining funds in the MR&I Projects Account to purchase on-Reservation land that comes with water rights.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Federal Help for Upkeep: Section 2(c) explicitly states that the Federal Government will have no obligation to pay for the operation, maintenance, or replacement of any MR&I Project. This means all upkeep costs fall entirely outside of federal funding responsibilities.
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? — Directly provides funding and legal mechanisms for the Crow Tribe's water rights and infrastructure. Would farmers be better off under this? — Water rights and infrastructure are critical for agricultural productivity. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Focuses specifically on improving rural water infrastructure. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improves essential water services for those who may lack adequate infrastructure. Would business owners be better off under this? — Reliable water infrastructure is essential for business operations and growth. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Generally improves the quality of life and reliability of water systems. Would children be better off under this? — Improved water infrastructure enhances sanitation and health for children in the community. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Improved access to clean water and reliable utility infrastructure. Would union members be better off under this? — Infrastructure projects often employ unionized construction labor. Would high-income households be better off under this? — General infrastructure improvements benefit all residents. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Potential for job creation and improved local infrastructure. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Potential for job creation and economic development.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Directly funds water production, treatment, and delivery infrastructure in a rural tribal area. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Allows the tribe to purchase on-Reservation land with water rights.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Supports the water rights and infrastructure needs of a Native American tribe. Does this make housing cost less? — Water infrastructure improvements are often a prerequisite for expanding affordable housing. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Securing water rights and infrastructure supports economic stability for tribal members.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — Infrastructure projects for water production and delivery generally create construction and engineering jobs. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Improved water infrastructure supports local economic development for the Crow Tribe.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Improved water treatment and delivery infrastructure directly impacts public health and sanitation.
- Public Law (10/16/2026)
The text as it became law
- Enrolled Bill
The final version, on its way to the President
The changes one chamber made to the other chamber’s version, as it passed them
- 10/15/2026
- Signed by President.
- Became Public Law No: 119-122.
- 10/5/2026
- Presented to President.
- 9/28/2026
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 9/24/2026
- Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 240 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5020)
- Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 240 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5020)
- 9/15/2026
- Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
- 9/14/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5570)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5570)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 240.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5570-5571)
- Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 12/15/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 12/11/2025
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8691-8692; text: CR S8691-8692)
- 11/4/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 119-93.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 260.
- 3/5/2025
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 1/24/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana