Budget & Taxes (Appropriations · Tribal Nations)

This bill allocates $2.5 million in state funds for each of the fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to reimburse Lake County for costs associated with assuming felony criminal jurisdiction over federally recognized tribes and the Flathead Indian reservation. The money is directed to the Department of Justice and is intended to serve as ongoing base funding for as long as the state maintains this jurisdiction under Public Law 280. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2025, and establishes a financial mechanism to support the county's law enforcement responsibilities in this area.

HB 366 proposed to appropriate a total of $5 million from the state's general fund to the Department of Justice over two fiscal years, starting July 1, 2025. This funding was intended to reimburse Lake County. The reimbursement was for the county's role in assuming felony criminal jurisdiction over members of federally recognized tribes and the Indian territory of the Flathead Indian reservation, a responsibility undertaken due to Public Law 280. The bill indicated that this appropriation was meant to be an ongoing part of the state budget until Montana ends its participation in Public Law 280.