LC 1347 Legislature · 2025 Regular Session

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
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