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S. 241In committee
Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Introduced: Jan 24, 2025
Latest action date: Mar 5, 2025
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Current stage
In committee
The most advanced recorded stage is committee consideration.
Introduced
Jan 24, 2025
Latest action
Mar 5, 2025
Recorded roll calls
0
Civixly topics
What this legislation is about
Civixly topics make federal and state legislation comparable. They are derived from the official CRS policy area and legislative subjects.
Official CRS policy area
Native Americans
View 19 official legislative subjects
Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitrationDams and canalsDepartment of the InteriorEconomic developmentEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchExecutive agency funding and structureFederal-Indian relationsGovernment information and archivesGovernment liabilityGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsHistorical and cultural resourcesHunting and fishingIndian lands and resources rightsIndian social and development programsIntergovernmental relationsLakes and riversLand transfersLand use and conservation
Bill Summary
Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
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.
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.
Committee activity
Committees and subcommittees that received, reviewed, marked up, or reported this legislation.
Official committee record ↗
Amendments
Proposed changes to this measure, with their latest official outcome or action from Congress.gov.
No amendments are listed for this measure.
Checked against Congress.gov Sep 13, 2026.
Action timeline
Newest action first. Action language comes from the official Congress.gov record.
View full action timeline3 actions
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
CommitteeSenateRead twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
IntroReferralSenateIntroduced in Senate
IntroReferralLibrary of Congress
Roll-call votes
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No connected roll-call votes are currently available for this bill.
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