# 119-s-3617: Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2026

119-s-3617, Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-31).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3617
- As of: 2026-07-31
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3617
- Congress: 119
- Title: Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2026
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Sponsor: Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Native Americans
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-31

## Summary

**This bill would settle and fund the Yavapai‑Apache Nation's water rights and build water infrastructure.** It ratifies a negotiated agreement, creates dedicated project and trust funds, and recognizes the Verde River's cultural and instream flow value. - Confirms Yavapai‑Apache Nation water rights to be held in trust by the United States, protects those rights from loss for non‑use, restricts most off‑reservation transfers, and requires transfer of specified land parcels into trust for the Nation. - Creates the Tu nl[[nichoh Water Infrastructure Project with a Cragin‑Verde pipeline to deliver about 6,836.9 acre‑feet per year to the Nation and up to 1,912.2 acre‑feet per year to other Yavapai County users. It also funds a Nation drinking water system sized for 2.25 million gallons per day with a 3.0 million gallons per day peak and optional additional capacity if county users pay their share. - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to execute and implement the Agreement, deposit required Treasury amounts into separate Project and Trust Fund accounts, hold title during construction, and have the Salt River Project operate pipeline facilities at Substantial Completion while cost and operation rules are set by the Agreement.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2026-01-13T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Keep the Verde River gage running: benefit, low. If enacted, the Secretary would have the U.S. Geological Survey continue to operate the Verde River gaging station above Camp Verde. The station would monitor the Nation's instream flow right and help administer and enforce local water rights under the Agreement.
- Small land transfer for Camp Verde: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would direct the Forest Service to work with the Town of Camp Verde to transfer up to 40 acres of Forest Service land to the Town. The land would be used for public safety and other municipal purposes and the transfer would follow existing authorities.
- Big federal funding and conditions: mixed, high. If enacted, the bill would create two big federal funds to pay for the projects and the Nation's water plan. The Treasury would deposit about $731 million for the Cragin‑Verde pipeline and about $152 million for the YAN drinking water system. It would also create a Trust Fund with deposits includin…
- Settle water rights, waivers, and land: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would ratify and confirm the Yavapai‑Apache Nation's water rights in the Settlement Agreement and direct the United States to hold those rights in trust. The Nation and the United States would sign a broad waiver giving up many past and present water claims through the Enforcea…
- Build, own, and run local water projects: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would let the Bureau of Reclamation plan, design, and build the Tu'nl nichoh projects: the Cragin‑Verde pipeline and the YAN drinking water system. The YAN treatment plant would be sized for up to 2.25 million gallons per day and a 3.0 million gpd peak. The pipeline must delive…
- Rules for CAP water delivery and charges: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would set who pays and what rules apply when the Nation gets Central Arizona Project (CAP) water. The Nation would get permanent CAP service and may store CAP water in Arizona and sell long‑term storage credits. CAP construction and delivery costs allocable to the Nation are de…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-1068: Putting Veterans First Act of 2025
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act

## Sources
- [119-s-3617 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3617)

## Related
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-1068: Putting Veterans First Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1068)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3617 (as of 2026-07-31).