The House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee convened on January 23, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous persons in North Dakota. A significant focus of the meeting was House Bill 11 99, which aims to enhance the response to these cases and improve support for affected families.

During the session, a tribal leader passionately addressed the ongoing crisis of missing individuals within Indigenous communities, highlighting the painful experiences of families left without answers. The leader shared the stories of Gemini Posey and Isaac Hunt, both of whom went missing under circumstances that exposed systemic failures in law enforcement responses. The absence of timely alerts and coordinated efforts from federal and state agencies was emphasized as a major barrier to effective action.

The proposed House Bill 11 99 seeks to establish a tribal emergency alert system, akin to existing Amber Alerts, to ensure rapid dissemination of information when individuals go missing. This system is intended to mobilize law enforcement and community resources quickly, potentially saving lives. The bill also aims to secure funding for training and resources for law enforcement agencies, which have historically been underfunded and overwhelmed.

In addition to immediate response measures, the bill proposes the development of culturally appropriate mental health services for families affected by these tragedies. The leader stressed the importance of accountability and transparency in the implementation of the bill, advocating for clear benchmarks and public reporting to track progress.

The meeting concluded with a call to action for legislators to prioritize the passage of House Bill 11 99, emphasizing that every day without action prolongs the suffering of families searching for their loved ones. The leader urged lawmakers to recognize the humanity of those affected and to commit to systemic changes that ensure Indigenous lives are treated with the same urgency and respect as any other citizen.