H.R. 5935, introduced in November 2025, approves a comprehensive water rights settlement for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians that grants the tribe the right to produce and use up to 20,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually with a priority dating back to 1876-1877, superior to all other groundwater claims in the region. Congress appropriates $500 million across four accounts to support water infrastructure development, groundwater augmentation, water management, and operations and maintenance, with $50 million immediately available and remaining funds accessible once the settlement becomes enforceable. The settlement also transfers approximately 3,582 acres of federal land into trust for the tribe, grants the tribe taxing authority over property leases on the reservation, and establishes a settlement trust fund to implement the agreement. The settlement must become enforceable by December 31, 2035, or the entire agreement expires and federal funds must be returned to the Treasury. Additionally, the legislation protects tribal cultural resources and requires the tribe's consent for any ground-disturbing activities that may affect sacred sites or remains.
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