HB 366 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Provide appropriation to DOJ for Lake County reimbursement related to PL 280

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.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 31, 2025 Last action May 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0366_1(5).pdf → HB0366_2.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to clarify that funds are distributed to both the tribes and Lake County, rather than just reimbursing the county. It added a severability clause and updated the effective date format. These changes ensure financial transparency and legal robustness for the jurisdiction transition.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely reimbursing Lake County to explicitly distributing funds to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for the transition of felony criminal jurisdiction.

FISCAL

Funding language was changed from reimbursing Lake County to distributing funds to both the tribes and Lake County.

Specific dollar amounts were added to the appropriation schedule to clarify the exact distribution per year.

REQUIREMENT

A new severability clause was added to ensure the bill remains valid if specific parts are ruled unconstitutional.

TECHNICAL

The effective date section was renumbered and the date format was standardized.

Floor votes · House Apr 3, 2025

How they voted

22–1

Passed

Total votes 23

Apr 3, 2025

D Democratic10

10 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1 Nay

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 3, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (22-1)

house

Apr 3, 2025

Amended

(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) Appropriations

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Appropriations

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Introduced

(H) Introduced

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors