119th Congress Native Americans
S. 241: Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Introduced
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- Passed House (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill modifies and ratifies a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the United States, Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana (i.e., the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes). The bill also authorizes wastewater infrastructure on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana.
The bill requires the community's water rights to be held in trust for the benefit of the community and its allottees. The community must enact a tribal water code to regulate its water rights.
Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (as applicable) to enter negotiations with Montana to exchange certain state lands for federal lands to be held in trust for the benefit of the community. The bill prohibits gaming on the land taken into trust.
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The bill also
- establishes the Aaniiih Nakoda Settlement Trust Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill,
- establishes the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Settlement Implementation Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill, and
- provides funding for specified accounts established by the bill.
The bill also authorizes Interior to plan, design, construct, operate, maintain, and replace community water distribution and wastewater treatment facilities for the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- Tim Sheehy R-MTOriginal
Who scored on this bill
No member has earned points from it yet.
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Other bills by Steve Daines
- S. 240: Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Amendments Act of 2025
- S. 239: Crow Revenue Act
- S. 4041: Cooperative Watershed Management Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
- S. 1175: Small County PILT Parity Act
- S. 1547: America the Beautiful Act
- S. 1020: To require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to extend the time period during which licensees are required to commence construction of certain hydropower projects
History
- Introduced in the Senate by Steve Daines.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Introduced in Senate
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.