Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025

What it does

• •Repeals Section 406 of the 2010 Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act, which previously established an MR&I (Municipal, Rural, and Industrial) System.
• •Establishes a new MR&I Projects Account within the Crow Settlement Fund to receive appropriated funds and amounts deposited under a September 13, 2012 agreement with the Tribe, with funds managed by the Secretary and deposited into a joint signature account.
• •Designates MR&I Project funds for the Tribe's priority use in planning, constructing, and operating water infrastructure for domestic, municipal, and wastewater purposes, with secondary use permitted for purchasing on-reservation land with water rights after on-reservation projects are complete.
• •Extends the timeline for Yellowtail Dam operations in Montana from 15 years to 20 years and clarifies that the federal government has no obligation to fund operation, maintenance, or replacement of MR&I Projects.

Why it matters

• •The amendments restructure how water settlement funds are managed and deployed, shifting from a repealed system to a dedicated account framework that may provide more direct control and flexibility to the Crow Tribe over water infrastructure investments.
• •The amendments specify that the Tribe retains title, control, and operation of any infrastructure built with these funds while relieving the federal government of ongoing maintenance obligations, clarifying long-term responsibilities.

Who is affected

• •The Crow Tribe, which gains expanded control over water infrastructure development and operational decisions on its reservation.
• •The federal government, which is relieved of obligations to operate, maintain, or replace MR&I Projects constructed with settlement funds.

What happens next

This Act, having been enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House and Vice President/President of the Senate, is enacted into law; the MR&I Projects Account is to be established as soon as practicable after enactment.