Senate Passes Indian Child Welfare Act
The Montana Senate passed Senate Bill 147, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, which updates and strengthens protections under the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act.
“Indian children deserve to grow up connected to their families, communities, and cultural heritage. Montana Indian Child Welfare Act reflects our commitment to addressing historical injustices and ensuring that Native voices guide decisions affecting their children. However, the impact of this law extends beyond Indian Country. Everyone comes from culture. MICWA sets a gold standard for all Montana children,” Windy Boy said.
The legislation seeks to address critical gaps and align Montana law with federal standards under the Indian Child Welfare Act, while also incorporating additional measures to ensure the rights and welfare of Indian children and families are protected within the state’s child welfare system. The bill includes provisions on preserving cultural integrity, tribal sovereignty, family reunification, and compliance and accountability. A critical improvement in the legislation is to remove the sunset clause so that these protections can be permanent and do not need to be renewed every session.
SB 147 is now headed to the governor’s desk.
