Crow Revenue Act
Latest action (5 Aug 2026): Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
What this bill does
S. 239 — Crow Revenue Act would arrange a three-way land and mineral exchange in Montana: the current lessee would relinquish an existing federal coal lease (the Bull Mountains Lease); the Hope Family Trust would transfer its mineral interests in roughly 4,660 acres within the Crow Reservation to the Crow Tribe; and the federal government would in turn convey mineral and surface interests in about 4,530 and 940 acres, respectively, in the Bull Mountains area to the Hope Family Trust. At the Tribe's request, the minerals it receives would be held in federal trust and exempt from Montana state and local taxation. Before the exchange proceeds, the Tribe and the Hope Family Trust must agree in writing on how they will share future revenue if the Bull Mountains interests are later developed.
The bill primarily affects the Crow Tribe of Montana, the Hope Family Trust, the lessee holding the Bull Mountains coal lease, and the Department of the Interior, which must carry out the conveyances within 60 days of enactment. It also states that nothing in the Act reduces any federal benefits or services the Tribe or its members already receive based on their tribal status.
Introduced by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on January 24, 2025, and referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the bill has since been ordered reported favorably by that committee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute (August 5, 2026). It would next need to be considered by the full Senate before moving to the House.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Crow Revenue Act
This bill addresses the exchange of mineral interests in Montana involving the federal government, the Crow Tribe of Montana, and a private party.
Specifically, the bill requires
• the Department of the Interior to accept the relinquishment of a specified federal coal lease associated with the Bull Mountains Mine near Roundup, Montana (the current operator of the mine is Signal Peak Energy);
• the Joe and Barbara Hope Mineral Trust (Hope Family Trust) to convey approximately 4,660 acres of subsurface mineral interests located within the boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation in Big Horn County, Montana, to the tribe; and
• Interior to convey approximately 4,530 acres of subsurface mineral interests and 940 acres of surface interests located in Musselshell County, Montana, to the Hope Family Trust.
Prior to these conveyances, the tribe must notify Interior that the tribe and the Hope Family Trust have agreed on a revenue-sharing formula for the development of the mineral and surface interests in Musselshell County, Montana.
The mineral interests conveyed by the Hope Family Trust to the tribe shall be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the tribe, upon the tribe's request. These mineral interests shall not be subject to state or local taxation.
Timeline
5 Aug 2026
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 239 do?
- S. 239 — Crow Revenue Act would arrange a three-way land and mineral exchange in Montana: the current lessee would relinquish an existing federal coal lease (the Bull Mountains Lease); the Hope Family Trust would transfer its mineral interests in roughly 4,660 acres within the Crow Reservation to the Crow Tribe; and the federal government would in turn convey mineral and surface interests in about 4,530 and 940 acres, respectively, in the Bull Mountains area to the Hope Family Trust. At the Tribe's request, the minerals it receives would be held in federal trust and exempt from Montana state and local taxation. Before the exchange proceeds, the Tribe and the Hope Family Trust must agree in writing on how they will share future revenue if the Bull Mountains interests are later developed. The bill primarily affects the Crow Tribe of Montana, the Hope Family Trust, the lessee holding the Bull Mountains coal lease, and the Department of the Interior, which must carry out the conveyances within 60 days of enactment. It also states that nothing in the Act reduces any federal benefits or services the Tribe or its members already receive based on their tribal status. Introduced by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on January 24, 2025, and referred to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, the bill has since been ordered reported favorably by that committee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute (August 5, 2026). It would next need to be considered by the full Senate before moving to the House.
- Has S. 239 become law?
- Not yet. As of 5 Aug 2026, S. 239 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 239?
- S. 239 was sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines [R-MT] (Republican-MT), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 239?
- Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. (5 Aug 2026).
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