- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 147
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 147
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT REVISING THE MONTANA INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT AND RELATED LAWS; REQUIRING
CULTURAL COMPACTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; CLARIFYING THE STANDARD FOR
EMERGENCY REMOVAL; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GUARDIANSHIPS;
REQUIRING CONSULTATION WITH AN INDIAN CHILD'S TRIBE ON A PERMANENCY PLAN; PROVIDING
ADDITIONAL GROUNDS THAT A COURT MAY HAVE REASON TO KNOW A CHILD IS AN INDIAN CHILD;
REQUIRING A DENIAL OF A TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION TO BE IN WRITING; REVISING
REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFIED EXPERT WITNESSES, ACTIVE EFFORTS, EVIDEN CE, AND
PLACEMENT PREFERENCES; AMENDING SECTIONS 40-6-407, 41-3-306, 41-3-444, 41-3-445, 41-3-1306,
41-3-1310, 41-3-1318, 41-3-1319, 41-3-1320, 41-3-1325, 41-3-1328, AND 41-3-1329, MCA; REPEALING
SECTION 55, CHAPTER 716, LAWS OF 2023; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.”
WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature recognizes the guiding principles it enacted in section 2-15-142,
MCA, that in formulating or implementing policies that have direct tribal implications, the state should consider
the following principles:
(1) a commitment to cooperation and collaboration;
(2) mutual understanding and respect;
(3) regular and early communication;
(4) a process of accountability for addressing issues; and
(5) preservation of the tribal-state relationship;
and in possibly no other area of concurrent tribal and state law is it more important that these principles be
followed as in an area as socially and culturally determinative as family relationships.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: - 2025
69th Legislature 2025 SB 147
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – SB 147
ENROLLED BILL
(Refer to Introduced Bill)
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert:
Section 1. Section 55, Chapter 716, Laws of 2023, is repealed.
Section 2. The secretary of state shall send a copy of [this act]
to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
Section 3. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
- END - I hereby certify that the within bill,
SB 147, 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. 147
INTRODUCED BY J. WINDY BOY, J. REAVIS, B. EDWARDS, M. LEE, P. STRAND, T. CROWE, J.
SECKINGER, B. CLOSE, S. FYANT, C. NEUMANN, J. WEBER, J. SOOKTIS, A. GRIFFITH, D. POWERS, M.
CUNNINGHAM, E. BUTTREY, M. DUNWELL, R. MARSHALL, E. MATTHEWS, J. MORIGEAU, T. RUNNING
WOLF, F. SMITH, S. WEBBER, M. FOX, L. SMITH, M. CAFERRO, B. CARTER, J. COHENOUR, P.
FLOWERS, D. HAWK, D. HAYMAN, S. HOWELL, J. KARLEN, C. KEOGH, K. KORTUM, S. MORIGEAU, A.
OLSEN, C. POPE, M. ROMANO, E. STAFMAN, K. SULLIVAN, M. THANE, Z. ZEPHYR, M. MARLER, S.
DEMAROIS, C. FITZPATRICK
AN ACT REVISING THE MONTANA INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT AND RELATED LAWS; REQUIRING
CULTURAL COMPACTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; CLARIFYING THE STANDARD FOR EMERGENCY
REMOVAL; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GUARDIANSHIPS; REQUIRING
CONSULTATION WITH AN INDIAN CHILD'S TRIBE ON A PERMANENCY PLAN; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
GROUNDS THAT A COURT MAY HAVE REASON TO KNOW A CHILD IS AN INDIAN CHILD; REQUIRING A
DENIAL OF A TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION TO BE IN WRITING; REVISING REQUIREMENTS FOR
QUALIFIED EXPERT WITNESSES, ACTIVE EFFORTS, EVIDEN CE, AND PLACEMENT PREFERENCES;
AMENDING SECTIONS 40-6-407, 41-3-306, 41-3-444, 41-3-445, 41-3-1306, 41-3-1310, 41-3-1318, 41-3-1319,
41-3-1320, 41-3-1325, 41-3-1328, AND 41-3-1329, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 55, CHAPTER 716, LAWS OF
2023; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.”