House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes an appropriation to reimburse Lake County for its consent to assume felony criminal jurisdiction under Public Law 280. The bill includes provisions for permissible uses of the funds, legislative intent, and state recognition and obligations. Specifically, it directs that funds be appropriated from the general fund to the Office of Budget and Program Planning to address financial requirements and funding shortfalls resulting from Lake County's assistance in the state's criminal jurisdiction and enforcement obligations. The funds will be distributed to support the transition of felony criminal jurisdiction on the Flathead Indian Reservation to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and to cover expenditures incurred by Lake County.

Additionally, the bill acknowledges that Lake County has withdrawn from Public Law 280 but will assist the state in fulfilling its obligations until the appropriation ends. If the transition is not complete by June 30, 2027, Lake County may provide further assistance proportionate to the funding authorized. The bill also states that if retrocession by the state or tribes is not completed by the same date, Lake County's withdrawal remains effective, and the county incurs no obligation to reenter the agreement. The total appropriation amounts to $2.5 million for each of the fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026, with the intent that this funding becomes part of the ongoing base for future bienniums until the state retrocedes from Public Law 280. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.