Knudsen commended lawmakers for prioritizing public safety and passing major legislation that will enhance the state Department of Justice’s ability to combat the rise of drugs and crime in Montana.
Legislation DOJ supported to combat human trafficking and the missing and murdered Indigenous persons crisis includes:
Human Trafficking
- House Bill 112, sponsored by Rep. Jodee Etchart of Billings, will increase the penalties for human trafficking and will provide prosecutors with more tools to prosecute human traffickers. It expands the definition of human trafficking and will help increase the crackdown on sexual abuse of children and all victims. To read more about the bill, click here.
- Senate Bill 522, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov of Billings, creates an emergency lodging grant program to assist in providing short-term lodging in the state to individuals and families that are victims of domestic violence or human trafficking. To read more about the bill, click here.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons
- House Bill 163, sponsored by Rep. Tyson Running Wolf of Browning, extends the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force and provides for a full-time program coordinator. To read more about the bill, click here.
- House Bill 18, sponsored by Rep. Tyson Running Wolf of Browning, establishes a missing persons response team training grant program. This bill will bolster the Montana Department of Justice’s response to missing and Indigenous people across the state. To read more about the bill, click here.
- Senate Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by Sen. Bob Brown of Trout Creek, urges Congress to fund law enforcement in Indian Country. To read more about the resolution, click here.
- House Joint Resolution 1, sponsored by Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway of Great Falls, requests an interim study on missing youth and requires the final result of the study to be reported to the Legislature. To read more about the resolution, click here.
