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S240

Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025

Last scannedOct 19, 2026, 2:45 AM

In one sentence

This law updates the 2010 water rights agreement between the Crow Tribe and Montana by changing how funds are managed for water projects and extending the tribe's exclusive right to build hydropower facilities at Yellowtail Dam.

What it does

  • Changes the term 'MR&I System' to 'MR&I Projects' throughout the 2010 settlement act.
  • Creates a new 'MR&I Projects Account' to hold funds for water production, treatment, and delivery infrastructure.
  • Requires the Crow Tribe to use funds from the new account for specific water infrastructure projects before using them for other purposes.
  • Extends the period during which the Crow Tribe has the exclusive right to construct hydropower facilities on the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam from 15 years to 20 years.
  • Clarifies that the federal government has no obligation to pay for the operation, maintenance, or replacement of these water projects.

Who it affects

  • The Crow Tribe of Montana
  • The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
  • The U.S. Department of the Interior

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact dollar amounts that will be deposited into the new accounts.
  • The bill does not state when the new accounts will be fully established, only that it should happen 'as soon as practicable.'
  • The bill does not detail the specific environmental laws the tribe must comply with, only that they must comply with 'applicable environmental laws.'

Plain language

Terms to know

MR&I Projects
Activities related to municipal, rural, and industrial water systems, such as building or repairing water pipes and treatment plants.
Yellowtail Afterbay Dam
A dam in Montana where the Crow Tribe has a specific, time-limited right to build hydropower facilities.
Nontrust, interest-bearing account
A bank account that earns interest but is not held in trust by the federal government for the tribe.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Read the official summary

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.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Became Public Law No: 119-122.Library of Congress
  2. Became Public Law No: 119-122.Library of Congress
  3. Signed by President.Library of Congress
  4. Signed by President.Library of Congress
  5. Presented to President.House floor actions
  6. Presented to President.Library of Congress
  7. Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
  8. Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 240 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5020)Senate
  9. Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 240 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5020)Library of Congress
  10. Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.Senate
  11. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
  12. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5570)House floor actions
  13. 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)Library of Congress
  14. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 240.House floor actions
  15. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5570-5571)House floor actions
  16. Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.House floor actions
  17. Held at the desk.House floor actions
  18. Received in the House.House floor actions
  19. Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
  20. Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8691-8692; text: CR S8691-8692)Senate