[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6313892,"mediaKeyId","2386497-a35169d93289bbffb769ed16a6359dbc","parentId",2386497,"title","Senate committee backs bill to extend and strengthen Montana Indian Child Welfare protections","audioSeconds",1181,"startMs",1297370,"endMs",2478788,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386497-a35169d93289bbffb769ed16a6359dbc&start=1297&end=2478","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386497-a35169d93289bbffb769ed16a6359dbc/thumbnail_1297370.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6313892/Montana/Senate-committee-backs-bill-to-extend-and-strengthen-Montana-Indian-Child-Welfare-protections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313892-9becad50e6d4f4ab8f624f223b7336eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607981&Signature=BttVBM21HzS1eRAwpfmeSEDs6Rp3plgHrmkDlIlqdkyWxfwugKkIZy1NuNWmW4yuF07MJfVCAb2HS2AThxiXKyey~hzBn3u~Ixbi56eF4A2JZdFYCk-H5gUs1vbtJFaYeV2Ulyzlr5sN5hoVGNEQw0WJVxqnxVPG~RtVExQ~ht9mZjYwv~uUg~h6HO5CZ~7Ttm2-7ZSMkBhfyKcPqFwMoHyUvcNTfbE67fPOhFOOZNm8EsE4315E~PEa61GITyWbZcOlQ9sicsDNaDhQ-KX~zootkuz2zkrIaD33LM01IY~3QCrupf1qFpmiuTzEGdMTlM-NV8KcHkK7QbMH3XqsCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 147, introduced and presented in committee by Senator Wendy Boyce, would revise Montana's Indian Child Welfare framework by removing a scheduled sunset date, adding requirements for cultural compacts, raising standards for emergency removal and qualified expert testimony, and requiring consultation with a child's tribe on permanency plans. The Senate committee of the whole recommended the bill do pass after extended debate.

Supporters said the bill strengthens state protections for Indian children beyond federal baseline protections, formalizes procedures to promote cultural continuity, and clarifies placement and guardianship rules. Senator Wendy Boyce told the committee the bill \"extends protections beyond the federal ICWA\" and highlighted that the measure removes the statute's June 2025 sunset so the protections continue in state law.

Senator Wey (Weber) told colleagues the issue has been under discussion since 2013 and stressed the racial disparity in foster care placements: \"There is 30% of the, children that are in foster care right now are Native American,\" a statistic he offered when urging support for the bill. Multiple senators described cultural compacts and \"active efforts\" language in the bill as central features meant to keep children connected to family, community and tribal culture while supporting reunification when possible.

Opponents and cautious members raised procedural and practical concerns. Senator Lantins (committee member) said he intended to vote no in the committee because he believed the state could \"do better\" and indicated interest in an interim study to refine a comprehensive program. Senator Emmerich expressed concerns about the scope of cultural compacts on page 2 of the bill, saying they appeared to create agreements between tribes and adoptive or guardian parents that may extend beyond current ICWA practice.

Sponsor Boyce and other supporters described \"active efforts\" provisions as protecting parental rights while imposing a heightened evidentiary standard and promoting social-work partnerships with parents, extended family and tribes. Committee discussion also referenced historical context and the long-term effects on children who lose cultural ties while in foster care.

The committee record shows the bill was read with Sections 1 through 17 identified in the clerk's reading; supporters urged passage on policy and cultural-preservation grounds while some members called for further study or expressed constitutional or practical reservations. No floor amendments are recorded in the provided excerpt; the transcript does not include a final roll-call breakdown for the committee recommendation in the excerpted portion.

The bill will move forward in the Senate process for additional readings and any subsequent floor action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session 2025-02-24","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 147 would codify additional protections for Indian children in foster care, remove a June 2025 sunset, require cultural compacts and tribal consultation on permanency plans, and raise evidentiary standards for removals; the committee recommended the bill do pass after extended debate.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6313898,"Committee backs bill to speed return of officers' weapons after investigations",93,1091135,1184279,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386497-a35169d93289bbffb769ed16a6359dbc&start=1091&end=1184","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386497-a35169d93289bbffb769ed16a6359dbc/thumbnail_1091135.jpg","/articles/6313898/Montana/Committee-backs-bill-to-speed-return-of-officers-weapons-after-investigations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313898-ebddd515d9e3670ebfb89c6cb33c84e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607981&Signature=DNDAw6MclNODuSGzea~RVfJnzps6xwB8aLiKwMbBbXSfAKnE~t1NbwM8Bo9d9EHB5H2bzzqwg6bAdrPyVxup-eHaUYwlwlP8QEE5Vqt-KCaPVkI~Jt3E36kX4Ks~seAEho7w0s4Ig-iHTCrSijuhXphJ0LI7Io0sNuhBmqRxygJrH4JhW2cTHzwHbLciEUZRMnplETaZW6Hy53X6~mXItZyZ4Zp6fYO0VQ0WPZXDRI5Xf64hpe0~BpksTdax2ycqRVhLJEYvhFLYHwEmxqpXTPgjW78BFhQh3pdkBTQyxGFEDL11r3rcucLpL2Yh9d~36AH70R4EY0ra82bVdhDrwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 288, which would establish evidentiary guidelines for seizure of law enforcement weapons and require expedited return under certain conditions once an investigation is complete, was recommended for passage by the Montana Senate committee of the whole after sponsor remarks and questions from members.

Sponsor Senator Logie said the bill responds to concerns that officers’ personal or department-issued firearms in some counties have been held for long periods during investigations, in some instances more than two years, creating staffing and equipment costs for small counties.

\"Some of these weapons have been held for over 2 years,\" Senator Logie said, describing Cascade County as an example where six weapons were taken for an investigation. He said the process can force officers or counties to replace weapons at significant cost.

Senator Logie said the bill is intended \"to, once the investigation is done, to just try and, push to get those weapons back out to those officers a little bit sooner, to alleviate that problem and that extra expense for those counties.\" The transcript records a question from Senator Fuller: \"Do law enforcement officers supply their own weapons in this state?\" Senator Logie replied that in some counties officers do supply their own weapons and that county resources vary.

After debate closed, the committee voted on the motion to recommend the bill do pass. The transcript excerpt includes a roll call statement: \"Senator Heyman's voting by proxy with 50 senators voting aye,\" recorded after the motion (the transcript does not list individual no votes in the excerpt). The committee then transmitted its recommendation for further Senate consideration.

The bill text referenced in the committee remarks includes two sections and would set procedures for how evidence firearms are handled during investigations and provide timelines for return once investigative steps conclude. No floor amendments are recorded in the provided excerpt.","Senate Bill 288, sponsored by Senator Logie, would set evidentiary guidelines and timelines for the return of law enforcement weapons after officer-involved shootings; committee recommended do pass and the record shows a 50-aye vote in the excerpted transcript.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6313903,"Senate committee advances bill to clarify tax treatment, metering for public EV chargers",128,916525,1044610,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2386497-a35169d93289bbffb769ed16a6359dbc&start=916&end=1044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2386497-a35169d93289bbffb769ed16a6359dbc/thumbnail_916525.jpg","/articles/6313903/Montana/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-clarify-tax-treatment-metering-for-public-EV-chargers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313903-8f6ee2b02ba768c8c88b496b8a414c66/orig.mp4?Expires=1773607981&Signature=F9EgbgvOZCouILk-NJJRVvlgjp~W-Dq7Yr7WmdjtoqmIZN4mE9FPeIalwFZgtKh~PeDj2VFLzQFHjvIAF2TsGhizFzywEMR31fpSAiJ2R0jLH5qM0JHtzgZXBvSairMvxbadSB9syN6UtnZYaN6PEd4yQIxI4qTmMVqthgLChwwj6CLRAlH-OJ1qXgzAskHNoNPsjDHAn9ABBWRpvzHVjMYluzfM53LRflzFovvsyB4kBJ8DO0kFpZzHkjcUOpjy-l3ktchyCiwFUYIlDZoKPmdWuVSbEP32yHGJs97~lhpZE5TMjuelb-nUqJJoq315bQonYNGOTikHsO7wPYOBHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 228, which would clarify tax rules for public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and revise meter requirements, was recommended for passage by the Montana Senate committee of the whole after a presentation by Senator Logie.

The bill is intended to clean up language enacted last session and to make tax and metering rules more uniform, particularly where cooperative electric utilities and public chargers intersect. Supporters told lawmakers the revisions aim to ensure only electricity consumed at a charging meter is taxed and to avoid taxing unrelated uses such as billboards.

Senator Logie, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the measure \"comes back from last session\" to address issues that arose as public charging infrastructure has grown. He said co-ops and utilities sought clearer rules and a uniform registration approach with the Department of Transportation so charging stations are tracked consistently.

\"Everything now has to go right to the the charging meter, and the billboards, and any extra electricity doesn't does not get charged for, doesn't get that tax,\" Senator Logie said.

Committee materials show the bill covers Sections 1 through 6 and would: clarify public charging station tax provisions; revise electric meter requirements; eliminate an electric vehicle fee reduction; provide related definitions; and include an effective date. No amendments were offered during the committee consideration in the transcript excerpt.

After discussion, Senator Logie moved that the committee recommend the bill do pass; the motion carried and the committee report will be transmitted according to Senate procedure. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for the committee recommendation in the provided excerpt.

The measure will continue through the Senate process for additional readings and any floor amendments.","A Montana Senate committee recommended passage of Senate Bill 228 to clarify tax rules and meter requirements for public electric vehicle charging stations, narrowing what electricity use is taxed and aiming for uniform registration with transportation officials.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee backs bill to extend and strengthen Montana Indian Child Welfare protections

Committee backs bill to speed return of officers' weapons after investigations

Senate committee advances bill to clarify tax treatment, metering for public EV chargers