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H 789

THE COEUR D’ALENE TRIBE WATER RIGHTS – Amends and adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding the 2026 Coeur d’Alene Tribe water rights settlement agreement and to provide for the Coeur d’Alene tribal water supply bank.

68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

Idaho bill operationalizes Coeur d'Alene Tribe water rights settlement and creates tribal water supply bank to manage tribal water resources.

Reported Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 181 Effective: 03/26/2026
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Bill Summary · H 789

Legislative bill overview

H 789 establishes legal provisions to implement a 2026 water rights settlement agreement with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and creates a tribal water supply bank. The bill operationalizes a negotiated settlement that allocates water rights and establishes a mechanism for the tribe to store and manage water resources in Idaho.

Why is this important

Water rights in the arid West are economically and politically significant, affecting agriculture, municipal supply, tribal sovereignty, and environmental flows. This settlement likely resolves long-standing disputes between tribal, state, and federal water claims while providing the Coeur d'Alene Tribe with secure access to water for reservation needs and economic development.

Potential points of contention

  • Agricultural water access: Existing water users and agricultural interests may oppose if the settlement reduces surface or groundwater availability for irrigation or other established uses
  • Tribal sovereignty vs. state authority: Questions about how much independent management authority the tribe receives over the water supply bank and whether state oversight remains appropriate
  • Implementation costs: Funding mechanisms for building and operating the water supply bank infrastructure, and whether costs fall on state/federal budgets or water users through rate increases

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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