Daines urged completion of the Northern Montana Water Security Act and said he wants to work with the Trump administration to build on past water-settlement successes.
Work to complete the Northern Montana Water Security Act.
Occurrences
Evidence
unverified · Source version 20360 · locator unknown
Daines said Montana’s final Indian water settlement is the Northern Montana Water Security Act and told the Assistant Secretary, “I want to make sure we hold each other accountable to that.” He added, “Time is of the essence on the issue. Can we work together and push to get this done this year?”
unverified · Source version 32065 · locator unknown
The Congress.gov bill page shows Sen. Daines as sponsor and lists the latest action as the Senate Indian Affairs Committee ordering the bill to be reported without amendment favorably on 2025-03-05. The same page still says the bill has the status Introduced and does not show passage by either chamber or enactment.
unverified · Source version 32065 · locator unknown
Congress.gov lists Sen. Steve Daines as the sponsor, shows the bill was introduced on 2025-01-24, and records the latest action on 2025-03-05 as the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs ordering it to be reported without amendment favorably. The same page still shows the bill status as Introduced, not enacted.
unverified · Source version 20360 · locator unknown
In a Senate Indian Affairs Committee exchange, Daines said he wanted to move forward and enact the Northern Montana Water Security Act and asked whether the committee could push to get this done this year.
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Michael K. Simpson R Since Aug. 24, 2026
unverified · Source version 62645 · locator unknown
Latest Action: Senate - 03/05/2025 Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
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Latest Action: House - 01/31/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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S. 241, a bill to provide for the settlement of the water rights claims of the Fort Belknap Indian Community
verified · Source version 62650 · locator 5651
You can’t sign a law yet this year.
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I can commit to finding a path forward.
Assessments
Daines materially advanced the promise by sponsoring S.241, the Northern Montana Water Security Act of 2025, and pushing it in committee and public hearings. But as of June 30, 2026, the official Congress.gov status still shows the bill only at the introduced stage with the latest action being a favorable committee order on March 5, 2025; it has not passed either chamber or become law. That means there is clear effort, but the promised completion has not yet been delivered.
Daines materially worked on the Northern Montana Water Security Act by sponsoring S.241 and pushing it in committee, which qualifies as a serious legislative effort. But the available evidence shows the bill was only introduced and ordered reported by committee, with no passage by either chamber and no enactment. Under this rubric, a substantial attempt without completion counts as failed delivery rather than partial or unresolved.
The Northern Montana Water Security Act has not been completed as of May 24, 2026. Congress.gov shows Daines sponsored S.241 on January 24, 2025, and the latest action was favorable committee reporting on March 5, 2025, but the bill still has only introduced status and has not passed both chambers or become law. Daines has materially worked on the issue, including sponsoring the bill and pressing administration officials in 2026, so effort credit is warranted, but the promised completion remains pending rather than delivered.