Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025 – Plain Language Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill finalizes a water rights agreement between the U.S. government, the state of Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community (the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes). It officially recognizes and protects the tribe's water rights, requires the tribe to create its own water management code, and authorizes the federal government to swap state and federal land so additional acreage can be held in trust for the tribe's benefit.
The bill also funds wastewater infrastructure improvements for the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and establishes a trust fund to support economic development and tribal programs. **Who It Affects:** Primarily the Fort Belknap Indian Community and Blackfeet tribes in Montana, who gain secured water rights and infrastructure investments. The agreement also involves Montana state officials and federal agencies (Interior and Agriculture departments) who will manage land exchanges and oversee implementation. **Key Provisions:** - Secures the tribe's water rights held in federal trust - Requires the tribe to adopt a water code - Allows federal-state land swaps to expand tribal trust lands (with a prohibition on gaming on transferred lands) - Funds wastewater systems for the Blackfeet Reservation - Creates a settlement trust fund for community benefits **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025This 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 alsoestablishes 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, andprovides 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.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.