Crow Revenue Act

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.

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