Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 907

119th Congress

Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 31, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Darin LaHood

Representative

Republican

IL-16

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Native Americans

Summary

This bill ratifies a water rights settlement between the U.S., Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It establishes trust funds for implementation, authorizes land exchanges, and provides for wastewater infrastructure on both Fort Belknap and Blackfeet reservations.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

SponsorDarin LaHood (R-IL)

Introduced1/31/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

See this page through your district lens

Enter ZIP to personalize representatives and vote context.

Stay on top of this issue

Subscribe for weekly bill and representative updates.

Vote Prediction

Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025

This bill ratifies a water rights settlement between the U.S., Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It establishes trust funds for implementation, authorizes land exchanges, and provides for wastewater infrastructure on both Fort Belknap and Blackfe

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill ratifies a water rights settlement between the U.S., Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It establishes trust funds for implementation, authorizes land exchanges, and provides for wastewater infrastructure on both Fort Belknap and Blackfeet reservations.

Bill Number: 907
Sponsor: Darin LaHood (R-IL)
Introduced: 1/31/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Policy Area: Native Americans

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025
Bill Number: 907
Sponsor: Darin LaHood (R-IL)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced: 1/31/2025
Summary: This bill ratifies a water rights settlement between the U.S., Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It establishes trust funds for implementation, authorizes land exchanges, and provides for wastewater infrastructure on both Fort Belknap and Blackfeet reservations.

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill ratifies a water rights settlement between the U.S., Montana, and the Fort Belknap Indian Community. It establishes trust funds for implementation, authorizes land exchanges, and provides for wastewater infrastructure on both Fort Belknap and Blackfeet reservations.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service 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 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>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.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Ratifies Fort Belknap Indian Community water settlement
Establishes Aaniiih Nakoda Settlement Trust Fund
Authorizes federal-state land exchanges for tribal benefit
Provides wastewater infrastructure for Blackfeet Tribe
Requires tribal water code for regulation

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

The Fort Belknap Indian Community would receive legally protected water rights and funding for water infrastructure. The Blackfeet Tribe would also benefit from authorized wastewater facilities.

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

907, 119th Congress (2025). "Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-907

Public Opinions

Community submissions related to this bill.

Share your opinion

No public opinions yet. Be the first to submit one for this bill.

Related Bills in Native Americans

S 953

Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

HR 5660

Pay Our Military Act

Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

SRES 83

A resolution designating February 2025 as "Hawaiian Language Month" or "'Olelo Hawai'i Month".

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S1042)

SRES 49

A resolution designating the week beginning February 3, 2025, as "National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week".

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimou