H.R. 907 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Natural Resources, Jan 31, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summarySecures water rights for Montana tribes
This bill settles long-standing water rights claims involving the Fort Belknap Indian Community and Blackfeet Tribe in Montana. It officially recognizes and protects the tribes' water rights, requires the Fort Belknap community to create rules governing how those water rights are used, and allows the federal government to work with Montana on exchanging certain lands to benefit the community. The bill also sets up funding and authorizes the government to build and maintain water distribution and wastewater treatment systems for the Blackfeet Tribe.
How it affects you
If you live in or around the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation or Blackfeet Indian Reservation, this settlement secures a more reliable water supply for your community and improves wastewater infrastructure. For most other Americans, this is a legal and governmental arrangement that resolves a long-standing dispute between tribal nations, Montana, and the federal government.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 31, 2025)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 907
A BILL
Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan K. Zinke (R-MT-1) · Introduced Jan 31, 2025 · Native Americans · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 31, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.”
Sections
Sections · 1
Title I — Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025 · 16
- Sec. 101Short titleNo change
- Sec. 102PurposesNo change
- Sec. 103DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 104Ratification of CompactNo change
- Sec. 105Tribal water rightsNo change
- Sec. 106Exchange and transfer of landNo change
- Sec. 107Storage allocation from Lake ElwellNo change
- Sec. 108Milk River Project mitigationNo change
- Sec. 109Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project SystemNo change
- Sec. 110Satisfaction of claimsNo change
- Sec. 111Waivers and releases of claimsNo change
- Sec. 112Aaniiih Nakoda Settlement Trust FundNo change
- Sec. 113Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Settlement Implementation FundNo change
- Sec. 114FundingNo change
- Sec. 115Miscellaneous provisionsNo change
- Sec. 116AntideficiencyNo change