Committee hears broad tribal and advocacy support to remove sunset from Montana Indian Child Welfare Act

Summary

Senate Bill 147 would remove the 2025 sunset and codify Montana-specific provisions that mirror and extend federal ICWA protections; tribal leaders, tribal courts, lawyers and advocacy groups urged passage while DPHHS pressed for small technical clarifications. The committee took testimony but did not take a vote.

Senator Jonathan Windiboy introduced Senate Bill 147 on behalf of his district and asked the House Human Services Committee to remove the law’s 2025 sunset so the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act (state ICWA) can continue to operate.

Tribal leaders, tribal attorneys, advocacy groups and child-welfare professionals gave sustained, unanimous-in-substance support during the hearing. Alyssa Snow, representing the Blackfeet Tribe, Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Chippewa Cree of Rocky Boy, said, “the aforementioned tribal governments stand here today in strong support of Senate Bill 147,” and argued removing the sunset would help state agencies meet federal ICWA standards and reduce cultural displacement of Indigenous children.

Members of the Indian Law Section of the State Bar, the ACLU of Montana and local caseworkers described the statute as a Montana-specific effort to keep Native children connected to their families and cultures. Lillian Alvernaz, chair of the Indian Law Section, told the committee the bill reflects months of…

Committee hears broad tribal and advocacy support to remove sunset from Montana Indian Child Welfare Act

Summary

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