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Federal law restructures Crow Tribe water settlement funding into an MR&I Projects Account

By LexCircuit Desk · · AI-drafted, human-reviewed

President Trump signed S. 240, the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, into law on October 15, 2026, the White House said. The Act amends the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-291), repealing the municipal, rural and industrial water system provisions, creating an MR&I Projects Account in the Crow Settlement Fund that the Tribe uses for water infrastructure on its Montana reservation, and extending the Yellowtail Dam period to 20 years.

Enrolled text (Congress.gov) → · Northern Broadcasting System, GovInfo, The White House

Key points

  • The Tribe uses MR&I Projects Account funds first for water production, treatment, delivery, and wastewater infrastructure, with environmental-law compliance.Congress.govGovInfo
  • After written notice that on-reservation projects are complete, remaining account funds may purchase on-reservation land with water rights.Congress.govGovInfo
  • The Account holds amounts appropriated under section 414(b)(1) and (2) after enactment, deposited in the MR&I joint signature account under a 2012 agreement.Congress.govGovInfo
  • Title to, control over, and operation of projects built with account funds remain in the Tribe; federal operation funding is excluded.Congress.govGovInfo
  • The Yellowtail Afterbay Dam hydropower period extends from 15 years to 20 years, through 2030.Congress.govNorthern Broadcasting SystemGovInfo
  • The Senate gave final approval on September 24, 2026, after the House passed the bill the preceding week.Northern Broadcasting System

Sources4 articles across 4 outlets

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RegulationU.S.Mont.Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025EnvironmentalRegulatoryFor practitionersFor governance