[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 725 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 725
To take certain mineral interests into trust for the benefit of the
Crow Tribe of Montana, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 24, 2025
Mr. Downing (for himself and Mr. Zinke) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To take certain mineral interests into trust for the benefit of the
Crow Tribe of Montana, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Crow Revenue Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Bull mountains lease.--The term ``Bull Mountains
Lease'' means the Bureau of Land Management Lease MTM-97988
dated June 1, 2012.
(2) Bull mountains tracts.--The term ``Bull Mountains
Tracts'' means the mineral interests that--
(A) are located in Musselshell County, Montana;
(B) comprise approximately 4,530 acres of
subsurface interests owned by the United States located
in--
(i) T. 6 N., R. 26 E., sec. 2;
(ii) T. 6 N., R. 26 E., sec. 24;
(iii) T. 6 N., R. 27 E., sec. 4;
(iv) T. 6 N., R. 27 E., sec. 8;
(v) T. 6 N., R. 27 E., sec. 10;
(vi) T. 6 N., R. 27 E., sec. 14;
(vii) T. 6 N., R. 27 E., sec. 22;
(viii) T. 7 N., R. 26 E., sec. 24;
(ix) T. 7 N., R. 26 E., sec. 26;
(x) T. 7 N., R. 26 E., sec. 34;
(xi) T. 7 N., R. 27 E., sec. 20; and
(xii) T. 7 N., R. 27 E., sec. 22;
(C) comprise approximately 940 acres of surface
interests owned by the United States located in--
(i) T. 6 N., R. 26 E., sec. 2;
(ii) T. 6 N., R. 27 E., sec. 8;
(iii) T. 6 N., R. 27 E., sec. 10;
(iv) T. 6 N., R. 28 E., sec. 8; and
(v) T. 7 N., R. 27 E., sec. 34; and
(D) are generally depicted on the map entitled
``Bull Mountains Tracts'' and dated January 30, 2024.
(3) Hope family tracts.--The term ``Hope Family Tracts''
means the aggregate mineral interests that--
(A) are located in Big Horn County, Montana, within
the boundaries of the Crow Reservation;
(B) comprise approximately 4,660 acres of
subsurface interests owned by the Hope Family Trust
located in--
(i) T. 4 S., R. 37 E., sec. 33;
(ii) T. 4 S., R. 37 E., sec. 34;
(iii) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 1;
(iv) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 2;
(v) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 3;
(vi) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 10;
(vii) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 11;
(viii) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 12;
(ix) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 13;
(x) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 14;
(xi) T. 5 S., R. 37 E., sec. 15;
(xii) T. 5 S., R. 38 E., sec. 5;
(xiii) T. 5 S., R. 38 E., sec. 8;
(xiv) T. 5 S., R. 38 E., sec. 9;
(xv) T. 5 S., R. 38 E., sec. 16; and
(xvi) T. 5 S., R. 38 E., sec. 17; and
(C) are generally depicted on the map entitled
``Hope Family Tracts'' and dated January 30, 2024.
(4) Hope family trust.--The term ``Hope Family Trust''
means the Joe and Barbara Hope Mineral Trust.
(5) Lessee.--The term ``Lessee'' means the lessee for the
Bull Mountains Lease.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(7) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Montana.
(8) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Crow Tribe of
Montana.
SEC. 3. MINERAL RIGHTS TO BE TAKEN INTO TRUST.
(a) Completion of Mineral Conveyances.--Not later than 60 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, in a single transaction--
(1) notwithstanding any other provision of law, including
sections 3480.0-6(d)(8) and 3452.1 through 3452.1-3 of title
43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), if
the Lessee offers to relinquish the Bull Mountains Lease, the
Secretary shall accept the relinquishment;
(2) the Hope Family Trust shall convey to the Tribe all
right, title, and interest in and to the mineral interests in
the Hope Family Tracts; and
(3) subject to valid existing rights, and on relinquishment
of the Bull Mountains Lease, the Secretary shall convey to the
Hope Family Trust all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to the mineral interests and surface land in the
Bull Mountains Tracts.
(b) Trust Status.--On the request of the Tribe, the mineral
interests conveyed to the Tribe under subsection (a)(2) shall be held
in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Tribe.
(c) No State Taxation.--The mineral interests conveyed to the Tribe
under subsection (a)(2) shall not be subject to taxation by the State
(including any political subdivision of the State).
(d) Revenue Sharing Agreement.--Before the conveyances under
subsection (a), the Tribe shall notify the Secretary, in writing, that
the Tribe and the Hope Family Trust have agreed on a formula for
sharing revenue from development of the mineral and surface interests
described in subsection (a)(3) if those mineral or surface interests
are developed at a later date.
(e) Withdrawal Prior to Exchange.--Subject to valid existing
rights, pending the conveyances under paragraphs (2) and (3) of
subsection (a), the tracts conveyed under those paragraphs shall be
withdrawn from--
(1) all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under
the public land laws;
(2) location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and
(3) operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials,
and geothermal leasing laws.
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER FEDERAL BENEFITS.
No amounts or other benefits provided to the Tribe under this Act
shall result in the reduction or denial of any Federal services,
benefits, or programs to the Tribe or any member of the Tribe to which
the Tribe or member of the Tribe is entitled or eligible because of--
(1) the status of the Tribe as a federally recognized
Indian Tribe; or
(2) the status of the member as a member of the Tribe.
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