Generally revise Montana Indian child welfare laws
This bill revises Montana's Indian Child Welfare laws to strengthen protections for Native American children in foster care and adoption. It requires courts to mandate cultural compacts between adoptive or guardian families and the child's tribe to preserve cultural connections, and clarifies standards for emergency removal and transfer of jurisdiction. The legislation also updates requirements for qualified expert witnesses, active efforts to reunify families, and placement preferences, while adding specific grounds for courts to recognize a child as an Indian child. These changes directly affect state courts, child welfare agencies, and tribal entities involved in child placement decisions.
Bill status
introduced
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Nov 14, 2024
Last action Jan 14, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
7
Key actions
0
Committee
0
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about LC 1347
Scope: MT
Hi! I can help you understand LC 1347. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline