Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023

House Bill

H.R. 5088

119th Congress

Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023

In Committee

Introduced:Sep 2, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Summer L. Lee

Representative

Democratic

PA-12

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Native Americans

Summary

This bill settles a water rights dispute between the federal government, the state of Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It requires the community's water rights to be held in trust for their benefit, and allows them to create a tribal water code to manage their water usage. The bill also authorizes the government to negotiate land exchanges with Montana to transfer certain state lands to the community.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

SponsorSummer L. Lee (D-PA)

Introduced9/2/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023

This bill settles a water rights dispute between the federal government, the state of Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It requires the community's water rights to be held in trust for their benefit, and allows them to create a tribal water code

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

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This bill settles a water rights dispute between the federal government, the state of Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It requires the community's water rights to be held in trust for their benefit, and allows them to create a tribal water code to manage their water usage. The bill also authorizes the government to negotiate land exchanges with Montana to transfer certain state lands to the community.

Bill Number: 5088
Sponsor: Summer L. Lee (D-PA)
Introduced: 9/2/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Policy Area: Native Americans

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023
Bill Number: 5088
Sponsor: Summer L. Lee (D-PA)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced: 9/2/2025
Summary: This bill settles a water rights dispute between the federal government, the state of Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It requires the community's water rights to be held in trust for their benefit, and allows them to create a tribal water code to manage their water usage. The bill al

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill settles a water rights dispute between the federal government, the state of Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It requires the community's water rights to be held in trust for their benefit, and allows them to create a tribal water code to manage their water usage. The bill also authorizes the government to negotiate land exchanges with Montana to transfer certain state lands to the community.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023 This bill modifies and ratifies a specified water rights settlement agreement entered into by the United States, Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community (i.e., the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes). 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 also <ul> <li>establishes the Aaniiih Nakoda Settlement Trust Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill,</li> <li> establishes the Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Settlement Implementation Fund (and specified accounts) for purposes of carrying out this bill, and</li> <li>provides funding for specified accounts established by the bill.</li></ul>

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Settles a long-standing water rights dispute between the federal government, Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community
Requires the community's water rights to be held in trust and allows them to create a tribal water code
Authorizes land exchanges between the federal government and Montana to transfer certain state lands to the Fort Belknap Indian Community

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

If this bill becomes law, it would directly impact the Fort Belknap Indian Community by securing their water rights and allowing them greater control over water management on their lands. The land exchanges could also expand the community's territory. More broadly, it would help resolve a longstanding legal dispute over water usage in the region.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Native Americans

Related Subjects

Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration

Dams and canals

Department of the Interior

Economic development

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Executive agency funding and structure

Federal-Indian relations

Government information and archives

Government liability

Government studies and investigations

+9 more

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

5088, 119th Congress (2025). "Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5088