Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 241
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-05: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-10T01:35:24Z
Official 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.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-05: Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-01-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
- 2025-01-24: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-24 — PDF (109 pages)