Tribal leaders and sponsor back bill requiring statewide reporting of federal funds routed through state agencies
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Summary
Senate Bill 303 would require state departments to report federal funds, pass‑through amounts and indirect costs distributed to tribal governments; proponents said the measure improves transparency and helps tribes assess funding effectiveness.
Sen. Wendy Boyd presented Senate Bill 303 as a transparency and accountability measure requiring state agencies to report federal funding and pass‑through dollars going to federally recognized tribes, and to publish a consolidated annual report to the Director of Indian Affairs and the State‑Tribal Relations Committee.
Patrick Yawake (Blackfeet/representing Fort Belknap Indian Community and Rocky Boy) testified in support and said tribes welcome a clearer statewide accounting of federal dollars administered or passed through by state departments. "This data will be put into a comprehensive detailed report that will be utilized by the state tribal relations committee and the office of director of Indian affairs and tribes across the state to maintain access and better identify funding that is reaching tribes," he said.
Sen. Boyd said the bill mirrors a prior 2023 proposal that was vetoed; this session she reintroduced substantially the same language and told the committee the goal is to allow tribes to compare state reports with tribal accounting to ensure funds reach intended programs and to better understand administered indirect costs.
No opponents testified at the hearing. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the scope of funds (state‑administered federal dollars, pass‑through grants and departmental indirect costs) and the sponsor confirmed the bill targets federal funds routed through the state and the departments listed in the bill. The hearing ended without committee action.