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Tribal governments would be allowed to access a state infrastructure loan program under legislation debated Monday in the Montana House Appropriations Committee.

The Montana Board of Investments aims to invest 25 percent of the state’s Coal Tax Fund annually. One of the ways it does so, the INTERCAP program, provides local governments with variable-rate loans for infrastructure projects. It funded $20.6 million worth of loans in Fiscal Year 2018.

While state agencies, counties, cities, towns, school districts and other governmental units are currently eligible for the loan, Montana’s seven federally-recognized tribes, and the state-recognized Little Shell Chippewa tribe, are not.

House Bill House Bill 428, introduced by Rep. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula, would change that and make them eligible.

“These programs provide more tools for tribal government to improve infrastructure and create jobs in local communities, which is good for all of Montana,” said Morigeau, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Jason Smith, director of Indian Affairs for the Governor’s Office, Carole Lankford, a member of the CSKT Tribal Council, and Sue Taylor with the Native American Development Corp. in Billings all spoke in support of the bill.