S. 239

Crow Revenue Act

Sponsor: Steve Daines

1 cosponsor
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Crow Revenue Act

This bill addresses the exchange of mineral interests in Montana involving the federal government, the Crow Tribe of Montana, and a private party.

Specifically, the bill requires 

  • the Department of the Interior to accept the relinquishment of a specified federal coal lease associated with the Bull Mountains Mine near Roundup, Montana (the current operator of the mine is Signal Peak Energy); 
  • the Joe and Barbara Hope Mineral Trust (Hope Family Trust) to convey approximately 4,660 acres of subsurface mineral interests located within the boundaries of the Crow Indian Reservation in Big Horn County, Montana, to the tribe; and 
  • Interior to convey approximately 4,530 acres of subsurface mineral interests and 940 acres of surface interests located in Musselshell County, Montana, to the Hope Family Trust. 

Prior to these conveyances, the tribe must notify Interior that the tribe and the Hope Family Trust have agreed on a revenue-sharing formula for the development of the mineral and surface interests in Musselshell County, Montana.

The mineral interests conveyed by the Hope Family Trust to the tribe shall be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the tribe, upon the tribe's request. These mineral interests shall not be subject to state or local taxation.

Text of the bill

Expand all
Sec. 3. Mineral rights to be taken into trust Changed · Sep 28

Where this section came from

  1. Jan 24, 2025 · Introduced in Senate Referred to Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Jan 24, 2025
  2. Sep 28, 2026 · Reported to Senate Marked up by Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Aug 5 Reported by Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Sep 28 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
What changed in the text

… 3 unchanged passages …

(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 Mineral Tracts.

… 2 unchanged passages …

(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 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—

… 3 unchanged passages …

What is a markup?

A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.

(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 in the Bull Mountains Mineral 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 interests described in subsection (a)(3) if those mineral 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.