The U.S. Senate has passed the Crow Tribe Water Settlement Amendments Act of 2025, a bill sponsored by Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy. The legislation aims to help the Crow Tribe in Montana implement provisions from the Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2009, ensuring access to clean water and supporting critical infrastructure projects on the reservation.
“Access to clean water is a basic necessity, and the Crow Tribe Water Settlement Amendment will ensure Montana’s Crow Tribe has the resources they need to deliver clean water to communities on the reservation and complete critical energy development projects. This has been a longstanding priority of mine, so I’m thrilled to see the bill pass the U.S. Senate and will keep fighting to get it passed through the House of Representatives,” said Daines.
“Ensuring our tribal partners have the support they need to access clean water and develop critical infrastructure to spur economic growth is common sense, and that’s what the Crow Tribe Water Settlement Amendment delivers. I’m glad to see this pass the Senate and will keep working with the Montana delegation to make life more safe, prosperous, and affordable for all Montanans,” said Sheehy.
The original 2009 settlement resolved tribal water rights claims and authorized $460 million for constructing a water system for the tribe. The new amendments shift funding from being project-based to fund-based, providing greater flexibility in how funds are used. Additionally, authorization for hydropower development at Yellowtail Afterbay Dam would be extended until 2030 under this legislation, which could provide both clean energy and economic benefits for tribal members.
The bill now moves forward for consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.