Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025 - Summary **What the bill does:** This bill approves and implements a water rights settlement agreement between the federal government, Montana state government, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community (comprised of the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes). The agreement clarifies water rights for the tribe and provides funding through a new trust fund called the Aaniiih Nakoda Settlement Trust Fund. The bill also authorizes improvements to wastewater infrastructure on the nearby Blackfeet Indian Reservation. **Who it affects:** The Fort Belknap Indian Community and its members are the primary beneficiaries, gaining secure water rights held in trust for their benefit. Montana state government is involved in land exchanges negotiated under the bill. The Blackfeet Indian Reservation also benefits from authorized wastewater infrastructure improvements.
The bill requires the Fort Belknap community to develop a tribal water code to manage their water rights. **Key provisions:** The settlement protects the tribe's water rights for economic and social development. It allows federal and state land exchanges (though prohibits gaming on any lands transferred into trust). The bill establishes a trust fund to support the community and requires the Interior and Agriculture departments to negotiate potential land swaps with Montana. **Current Status:** As of now, the bill is in committee (S. 241, 119th Congress) and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.
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
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.