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S 3019 116th Congress Senate Native Americans Federal-Indian relations Government trust funds Indian claims Indian lands and resources rights Land transfers Land use and conservation Montana Water storage Water use and supply Wilderness and natural areas, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, habitats

Montana Water Rights Protection Act

Introduced: December 11, 2019 Introduced by: Daines, Steve Republican · Montana See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 29, 2020
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jun 24, 2020
Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-338.
Dec 11, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
Dec 11, 2019
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Montana Water Rights Protection Act

This bill authorizes, ratifies, and confirms a specified water rights settlement entered into by the United States, Montana, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation of Montana. Specified claims of the tribes against the United States are waived and released.

The bill directs the Department of the Interior to allocate specified amounts of storage water in Hungry Horse Reservoir for use by the tribes.

It also permits the tribes to carry out specified activities related to the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, such as rehabilitating structures, upgrading irrigation facilities, and restoring streams that are affected by such project.

In addition, the bill (1) establishes, for purposes of carrying out the bill, the Séli&#353-Qlispé Ksanka Settlement Trust Fund; (2) requires Interior to offer to negotiate with Montana for the transfer of specified parcels of state land; (3) requires the National Bison Range to be held in trust for the benefit of the tribes; and (4) requires Interior to make certain payments to Lake and Sanders Counties in Montana for the restoration of the National Bison Range.

What's happening now July 29, 2020

Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3019: Montana Water Rights Protection Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3019/
MLA
"S. 3019: Montana Water Rights Protection Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3019/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3019, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3019/.
Markdown link
[S. 3019: Montana Water Rights Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-3019/)
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