Sen. Padilla Introduces Bill to Settle Agua Caliente Tribe Water Rights and Provide $500 Million in Funding
This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process after being sent to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for review. It is actively moving forward as it waits for the committee to discuss the proposal. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Water settlements often have bipartisan support but can take years to move through the committee process and secure full funding.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Homeowners on the Agua Caliente Reservation who hold possessory interests will see their property tax authority shift from Riverside County to the Tribe. The bill requires the Tribal tax to be at least equal to the county rate, so tax bills should not decrease. Local public agencies that depend on those tax revenues, like school districts, are guaranteed the same funding they currently receive.
“The Tribal Tax shall not for any taxable period be imposed with respect to any Possessory Interest at a rate or on an assessed value lower than the rate and any assessed value that, but for the preemption in this section, would have formed the basis for imposition and assessment of the Riverside County Ad Valorem Property Tax”
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1937)
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff introduced legislation to approve a water rights settlement involving the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and local water agencies. The bill ratifies a 2025 agreement resolving long-running disputes over groundwater rights in Coachella Valley.
Legislation introduced in both the House and Senate would ratify the 2025 agreement between the Agua Caliente Tribe and local water districts. Key provisions include a $500 million settlement fund and the transfer of 2,742 acres of federal land into trust for the Tribe.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act
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