# Mont. Code Ann. § 85-20-902: 85-20-902 Findings and purpose

> Montana · Statutes · Reserved

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T85_C20_P9_S85-20-902

## Section

- **Citation:** Mont. Code Ann. § 85-20-902
- **Heading:** 85-20-902 Findings and purpose
- **Jurisdiction:** Montana
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** Reserved
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MT Code / Title 85 / Chapter 20 / Part 9 / Section 85-20-902

## Text

85-20-902 . Findings and purpose. (1) It is the policy of the state of Montana to seek negotiated settlements of federal and Indian reserved water rights claims in Montana under Title 85, chapter 2, part 7.

(2) Pursuant to this policy, the commission commenced negotiations with the Crow Tribe regarding the Tribe's water rights claims on November 12, 1981.

(3) A water rights compact has been agreed to between the commission and the elected representatives of the government of the Crow Tribe that, among other things, provides an allocation of water to the Crow Tribe and provides protection for certain water rights recognized under state law in Montana.

(4) As consideration for the Crow Tribe's agreement to protect certain water rights recognized under state law in Montana and to release certain legal claims asserted against the state, the state of Montana has undertaken an obligation to make certain payments for the benefit of the Crow Tribe and has agreed that any future production taxes collected by the state on production of coal owned by the United States in trust for the Crow Tribe will be paid to the Crow Tribe.

(5) The commission's agreement to the compact and the state's obligation to make payments to the Crow Tribe thereunder is conditioned, among other things, upon the final approval of the compact as set forth in the compact and as required by state, federal, and tribal law and upon the execution and delivery by the Crow Tribe of sufficient releases for the legal claims that the Crow Tribe has agreed to release.

(6) The purposes of 85-20-902 through 85-20-905 are to provide for the implementation of the compact, to provide a mechanism for settlement of certain claims against the state, and to provide a means to fund the state's financial obligations for the upcoming biennium under its water rights compact with the Crow Tribe.

## Nearby sections

- [Mont. Code Ann. § 85-20-901 85-20-901 Crow Tribe-Montana compact ratified](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T85_C20_P9_S85-20-901.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 85-20-902 85-20-902 Findings and purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T85_C20_P9_S85-20-902.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 85-20-903 85-20-903 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T85_C20_P9_S85-20-903.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 85-20-904 85-20-904 Payment of settlement funds into escrow -- requirements for escrow agreement -- notice from attorney general](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T85_C20_P9_S85-20-904.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 85-20-905 85-20-905 Settlement of litigation -- disposition of production taxes collected on coal owned in trust for Crow Tribe](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T85_C20_P9_S85-20-905.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T85_C20_P9_S85-20-902. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.