Enhance legislative understanding of state-tribal relations

- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 311
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 311
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT ENHANCING LEGISLATIVE UNDERSTANDING OF STATE-TRIBAL RELATIONS; REQUIRING THE
STATE DIRECTOR OF INDIAN AFFAIRS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO LEGISLATORS; REVISING THE DEADLINE FOR PROVIDING A
REPORT TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS; AMENDING SECTION 2-15-143, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. State-tribal relations training. (1) In collaboration with the legislative services division
and the state-tribal relations committee, the state director of Indian affairs shall make readily available to all
legislators information and training on:
(a) Indian law;
(b) the history of federal Indian policy; and
(c) the legal rights of tribal members.
(2) The information and training under subsection (1) must include:
(a) regularly updated tribal relations handbooks provided to legislators;
(b) information and notifications regarding training offered by the governor's office pursuant to 2-
15-143;
(c) links to Indian education for all resources provided by the office of public instruction under Title
20, chapter 1, part 5, including any courses required to be taken by certified school personnel under standards
adopted by the board of public education; and
(d) any other resources determined to be valuable by the state director of Indian affairs and the
legislative services division.
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 311
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – SB 311
ENROLLED BILL
Section 2. Section 2-15-143, MCA, is amended to read:
"2-15-143. Training and consultation. (1) At least once a year, the governor's office and a trainer
selected by the tribal governments shall provide training in Helena or a site mutually agreed upon on to state
agency managers and key employees who have regular communication with tribes on the legal status of tribes,
the legal rights of tribal members, and social, economic, and cultural issues of concern to tribes. Pursuant to
[section 1], the state director of Indian affairs shall collaborate with the legislative services division to ensure
that legislators are aware of and invited to participate in this training.
(2) At least annually, the governor shall convene in Helena a working meeting with representatives
of state agencies and tribal officials, including tribal presiding officers, to discuss:
(a) tribal concerns with rules and policies that directly impact tribal government and tribal
populations;
(b) other issues of concern to either the state or the tribes; and
(c) potential solutions to the concerns.
(3) By August 15 of each year, each state agency shall submit to the governor a report for the prior
fiscal year describing the activities of the state agency relating to tribal government and tribal populations. The
report must include:
(a) any rule or policy changes that the state agency adopted because of discussions under
subsection (2)(a);
(b) the process that the state agency has established to identify the activities of the state agency
that affect tribes;
(c) the efforts of the state agency to promote communication and the government-to-government
relationship between the state agency and the tribes; and
(d) the efforts of the state agency to ensure tribal consultation and the use of American Indian data
in the development and implementation of agency programs that directly affect tribes.
(4) By September October 15 of each year, the governor shall provide to each tribal government a
report with an overview of all state and tribal activities for the prior fiscal year, including a description of the
training required under subsection (1). It is the intent of the legislature that this report be prepared within
existing levels of funding."
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 311
- 3 - Authorized Print Version – SB 311
ENROLLED BILL
Section 3. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act]
to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
Section 4. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title
5, chapter 11, part 1, and the provisions of Title 5, chapter 11, part 1, apply to [section 1].
Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2025.
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
SB 311, originated in the Senate.
___________________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
SENATE BILL NO. 311
INTRODUCED BY S. MORIGEAU, S. NOVAK, T. CROWE, C. NEUMANN, J. WEBER, W. CURDY, M.
DUNWELL, J. ELLIS, T. RUNNING WOLF, S. WEBBER, M. FOX, D. HARVEY, G. LAMMERS, E. BOLDMAN,
D. HAYMAN, E. KERR-CARPENTER, A. OLSEN, C. POPE, C. FITZPATRICK
AN ACT ENHANCING LEGISLATIVE UNDERSTANDING OF STATE-TRIBAL RELATIONS; REQUIRING THE
STATE DIRECTOR OF INDIAN AFFAIRS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO LEGISLATORS; REVISING THE DEADLINE FOR PROVIDING A
REPORT TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS; AMENDING SECTION 2-15-143, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.