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MontanaHB 54569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Revise laws related to missing and murdered indigenous persons

Sponsored By: Tyson T. Running Wolf (Democrat)

Signed by Governor

CrimesIndians

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Council and grants to find missing Indigenous people

The law establishes an advisory council on missing and murdered Indigenous persons in the Department of Justice. The Attorney General appoints members, including one from each Montana tribe, a DOJ missing-persons expert, a homicide investigator, an AG’s office representative, and an education representative. The council works to fix jurisdiction gaps, improve agency communication, and runs the Looping in Native Communities grants. The grant program funds a tribal hub and smaller matching grants, with rules for data security, verification, automatic alerts, and a standard form that includes contact details and photos, including social media. The council reports data and recommendations by July 1 before each regular legislative session, and the council and grant program end June 30, 2033.

New state fund for missing Indigenous cases

The law creates a special state account for the advisory council and grants, managed by the Department of Justice. Money can come from gifts, grants, donations, securities, and other lawful sources, and is used for council and grant program costs approved by DOJ and the council. Interest and unspent money stay in the account, and the account is audited under state law. Beginning July 1, 2025, the law appropriates $1 from the account to DOJ for the biennium beginning that date for the council’s purposes.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tyson T. Running Wolf

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 489 • No: 5

House vote • 4/22/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 97 • No: 1

House vote • 4/18/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 97 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 49 • No: 1

House vote • 3/4/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 98 • No: 1

House vote • 3/3/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 98 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/16/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/5/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/2/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/1/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/25/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/22/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/22/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/18/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/12/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading

    4/12/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading

    4/11/2025Senate

  13. Committee Report

    4/10/2025Senate

  14. Committee Executive Action

    4/10/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    4/7/2025Senate

  16. Hearing

    4/6/2025Senate

  17. Hearing Canceled

    3/28/2025Senate

  18. Hearing

    3/25/2025Senate

  19. Referred to Committee

    3/5/2025Senate

  20. Transmitted to Senate

    3/4/2025House

  21. 3rd Reading

    3/4/2025House

  22. 2nd Reading

    3/3/2025House

  23. Committee Report

    2/25/2025House

  24. Committee Executive Action

    2/25/2025House

  25. Hearing

    2/20/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/10/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/18/2025

    PDF

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