Committee backs SB 393 to fund reimbursements tied to felony jurisdiction on Flathead Reservation

Senate Bill 393, carried by Senator Hertz, would provide funding authority for reimbursements related to felony criminal jurisdiction on the Flathead Indian Reservation and drew discussion about statutory obligations and negotiations among the state, Lake County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).

Senator Hertz told the committee that the measure implements obligations under Montana law and cited Montana Code Annotated section 2‑13‑01, which "states the state shall provide reimbursements to Lake County for assuming criminal jurisdiction under this section annually to the extent funds are appropriated." Hertz said prior sessions had appropriated several million dollars, that a later appropriation was reduced, and that if Lake County and CSKT withdraw from the current cooperative arrangements, "the state's gonna have to step into the tune of probably a hundred million dollars or more." He asked colleagues to "have some faith and move this over to the house in case we need it over there."

Senator Windiboy raised fairness concerns for other counties and tribes, asking why Lake County would receive reimbursements while other counties and tribes with cooperative agreements would not, and pressed the committee on fiscal transparency. Windiboy said constituents and local officials had expressed frustration about perceived unequal treatment.

No amendment was offered in the excerpt. Senator Hertz moved that the committee recommend a do pass on SB 393; the committee reported the bill as do pass and forwarded it to the House for concurrence in the appropriations process.

Ending: SB 393 advances legislative consideration of reimbursements tied to criminal-jurisdiction arrangements on the Flathead Reservation and will proceed through the appropriations and intergovernmental negotiation process.