HELENA – Gov. Steve Bullock held a ceremonial signing Thursday of several bills pertaining to Native Americans and missing persons and praised members of the Legislature’s Indian Caucus for their perseverance in getting the proposals to his desk.

“It is such a tremendous honor to gather with all of you to recognize some of the really great work accomplished this legislative session on behalf of our tribal nations and American Indian communities,” he said, offering praise to the Legislature's American Indian Caucus.

“Even when a bill got gutted or seemed to die in the process, the caucus never stopped fighting,” Bullock said. “Lives were literally on the line and to choose inaction was simply unacceptable.”

He said he was signing five pieces of legislation that will address the missing and murdered indigenous women’s epidemic.

Bullock held the signing during the annual Tribal Leaders Summit that took place Wednesday and Thursday. The bills had been signed into law earlier to meet state deadlines.

He also ceremonially signed House Bill 524, by Rep. Marvin Weatherwax, D-Browning, to put the flags of Montana’s Tribal Nations on permanent display on the state Capitol grounds.

The state will erect a monument and display the flags of Montana's eight recognized Native American tribes, the Associated Press reported. Weatherwax called it a big honor and "well overdue."

Bullock says the monument will be a symbol of respect and understanding, and a recognition that the Capitol belongs to everybody.

The bills signed included HB 21, establishing Hanna’s Act, by Rep. Rae Peppers, D-Lame Deer. The bill would create a missing person’s specialist within the Department of Justice.

Hanna's Act had a roller-coaster ride through the legislative process and at one point had its $100,000 in funding stripped. The attorney general's office said it could proceed without the funding, but money was restored.

“It’s just really overwhelming but it’s a relief that Indian Country was recognized,” Peppers said after the signing ceremony. She called the passage of Hanna’s Act a bipartisan effort. “The people of Montana are the ones who stepped forward.”

HB 20, also by Peppers, to revise laws related to the reporting of missing children and HB 54, revising laws related to missing persons reports were signed as well.

Bullock also signed Senate Bill 40, requiring OPI to create and maintain electronic directory photograph repository, by Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, and SB 312, by Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby, creating the Looping in Native Communities network (LINC) grant program.

Other bills included establishing the Louis Charles Charlo memorial highway, by Weatherwax.

• HB 748, establish he Minnie Spotted-Wolf Memorial Highway, by Rep. Jade Bahr, D-Billings. Spotted-Wolf was the first Native American woman to enlist in the Marines.

• HB 158, revise and fund purple heart scholarship, by Rep. Rae Peppers;

• HB 19, revise definition of “high-poverty county” for Big Sky Economic Development, by Rep. Sharon Stewart-Peregoy, D-Crow Agency;

• HB 632, require decennial report on economic impact of Indian reservations, by Bahr; and

• SB 212, revise resident non-beneficiary student laws, by Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning.

There were 11 American Indians who served in the 2019 legislative session, the highest number ever, according to the state legislative website. The American Indian Caucus made up 7.3 percent of the legislative body.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Veteran journalist Phil Drake is our eye on the state capitol. For tips, suggestions or comment, he can be reached at 406-231-9021 or pdrake@greatfallstribune.com. To support his work, subscribe today and get a special offer.