Committee amends SB 379 on tribal consultation but bill fails and is tabled

The House State Administration Committee took executive action on Senate Bill 379, which would have revised state laws governing tribal consultation. Committee staff said an amendment requested by Representative Running Wolf aimed to reduce concerns about agencies needing to add new full-time employees by making the governor's tribal liaison responsible for certain functions unless an agency designates its own liaison.

Ms. Power told the committee the amendment streamlines language and makes clearer that the governor's office tribal liaison would carry many duties in conjunction with agencies; if an agency designated its own liaison, responsibilities would fall to that agency. Representative Feyant described prior federal work where tribal liaison duties were handled as collateral duties within existing positions, suggesting the amendment could be implemented without substantial new payroll costs. Representative Schubert responded that the amendment still contains mandatory language and might increase workload and fiscal costs, and he said he would oppose it.

Members approved the amendment in a roll-call vote (13 ayes, 6 noes). When the committee then voted on the bill as amended, the roll-call returned 9 ayes and 10 noes and SB379 did not pass. A substitute motion to table the bill was then offered and carried; the bill is tabled for now.

No specific fiscal figures were provided during the discussion, though several members raised concerns about a potentially large fiscal note and whether duties could be assigned within existing staff capacity. The committee recorded proxy votes where members were absent.