S. 4368: Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act is legislation designed to formally recognize and address the water rights of the Agua Caliente Tribe in California. The key components of the bill include:
Water Rights Recognition
The bill acknowledges the water rights claims of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, thereby providing legal backing for the Tribe's access to water resources in the region.
Establishment of a Trust Fund
It creates a trust fund specifically for the management of water resources related to the Tribe. This fund is intended to support the Tribe in managing its water rights effectively and in alignment with the approved plans.
Federal Land Transfer
The legislation also facilitates the transfer of certain federal lands to the Tribe, which could help bolster their capacity to manage water resources and undertake related projects.
Expenditure Plan Requirements
The Tribe must develop and submit an expenditure plan to the Secretary of the Interior when they wish to withdraw funds from the Agua Caliente Settlement Trust Fund. This ensures that any expenditures align with the purposes outlined in the legislation.
Approval and Oversight
The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for reviewing and approving these expenditure plans. The Tribe retains specific water rights and holds the responsibility for the costs associated with the plans, as well as for providing annual reports on their usage.
Accountability
This framework is aimed at ensuring accountability for how the funds are used and reinforcing the regulatory oversight of the expenditures related to water rights management.
Summary
In summary, the bill aims to support the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians by recognizing their water rights, establishing a dedicated fund for water management, transferring federal lands to them, and setting up a structured process for expenditure oversight and accountability.
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Sponsors
2 bill sponsors
Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Apr. 22, 2026 | Introduced in Senate |
| Apr. 22, 2026 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1937) |
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