Bullock signs Flathead water compact

HELENA (AP) – Gov. Steve Bullock has endorsed a historic negotiation that could ratify the last and most contentious of seven tribal water compacts in Montana.

The Democratic governor signed Senate Bill 262 on Friday. He was joined by bill sponsor Sen. Chas Vincent, Tribal Chairman Vernon Finley and about 150 other tribal members, lawmakers, negotiators and family members.

The measure, decades in the making, put the state's stamp of approval on a water use agreement among the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the state and federal governments.

U.S. Congress will take up the compact next. State attorneys say it could be years before the agreement is approved by Congress and moves to the tribes for implementation.

A lawsuit filed Monday seeking to restrain the governor from signing the bill was still pending at the time of the signing ceremony.