PRIA Logo™
119-s-241119th CongressWALLET

Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Daines, Steve [R-MT]

In Committee

Summary

Would ratify and implement the Fort Belknap–Montana water rights compact to secure Tribal water rights, create settlement and implementation funds, and authorize land transfers and water infrastructure. It would also authorize planning and funding for Blackfeet Tribe wastewater facilities.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

Blackfeet water and wastewater funding

If enacted, the bill would authorize $250 million, subject to appropriation, to plan and build water distribution and wastewater treatment for the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana. If Congress provides the money, the tribe could use it for design, construction, operation, maintenance, and replacement of those systems. That funding would be targeted to improving community water services for Blackfeet members.

Irrigation projects and water rights

If enacted, the bill would give the Fort Belknap Indian Community 20,000 acre-feet per year from Lake Elwell for any beneficial use. The bill would fund rehabilitation and expansion of the Fort Belknap Irrigation Project with a cost cap and require formation of a project management committee. It would fund specified Milk River canal work to increase conveyance, and make lower-cost Pick-Sloan pumping power rates available for covered irrigation projects. The bill also says many Secretary project costs would be nonreimbursable and sets conditions for industrial leasing payments and other OMR obligations.

New Tribal Trust Fund Rules

If enacted, this bill would create the Aaniiih Nakoda Settlement Trust Fund for the Fort Belknap Indian Community. The bill would set up three restricted accounts inside the Trust for irrigation, water administration, and clean water systems. The tribe could withdraw money only after the Interior Secretary approves a Tribal management plan and specific expenditure plans. The bill would bar per-capita payments from these accounts and would say the Secretary is not liable for how withdrawn funds are spent.

Settlement funding and timing rules

If enacted, the bill would create an Implementation Fund in the Treasury and two named accounts to pay for irrigation system work and Milk River mitigation. It would authorize large discretionary sums and direct Treasury deposits into the accounts, some of which would be available without further appropriation. The bill would allow indexing of authorized amounts for construction cost inflation. The funding and many authorities would not become enforceable until the Secretary publishes findings that several conditions are met, and the United States would not be liable if Congress does not appropriate required amounts.

Settlement waivers, liens, and rights

If enacted, the bill would make the benefits in the title the full replacement for many Fort Belknap water claims, and require execution of waivers that take effect on the enforceability date. The Community and the United States would keep several important retained claims, like water-rights enforcement and water-quality claims under major federal laws. The bill would ban permanent alienation and loss for Tribal water rights and make the Secretary administer allottee rights until an approved Tribal water code is in place. The bill would also cancel, on enactment, debts and liens on allotments tied to certain irrigation construction assessments and O&M charges.

Land swaps and trust transfers

If enacted, the bill would let Interior (and Agriculture for forest land) negotiate and prioritize exchanges of listed federal land for specified State parcels for five years. Certain named federal parcels would be taken into trust for the Fort Belknap Community on the enforceability date. The Secretary would provide up to $10 million to help pay appraisal and administrative costs for those exchanges. If land is transferred, holders must remove personal property within 90 days after their lease or permit ends, or the tribe may dispose of it and charge removal costs to the holder.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Daines, Steve [R-MT]

MT • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 1/24/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation