Rep. Rae Peppers Unveils Bill Package to Seek Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

HELENA—Today, Rep. Rae Peppers (HD-82, Helena) was joined by Governor Steve Bullock, House Democratic leadership, and family members of missing and murdered Indigenous women to announce her bill package to seek justice for Native women in Montana.

Rep. Rae Peppers is the primary sponsor for Hanna’s Act, H.B. 21, which would require the Department of Justice to employ a missing persons specialist to assist county, state, municipal, and tribal law enforcement agencies in pursuing missing persons cases. Hanna’s Act is named for Hanna Harris, a member of the Cheyenne tribe, whose 2013 murder prompted a massive organizing effort and calls for justice for missing and murdered indigenous women.

“The lives and safety of Native women cannot be put on the back burner any longer,” said Rep. Rae Peppers. “Too many of our sisters, mothers, and daughters have been left behind by our legal system. This isn’t just an Indian Country problem, this is a Montana problem—and the time for action is now.”

Rep. Peppers is also sponsoring H.B. 20 and H.B. 54, which would make fixes to the missing persons report system and expedite the report process.

“The devastating epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women could not be more urgent,” said House Democratic Leader Rep. Casey Schreiner. “Getting justice for these missing Montanans and their families is one of our top priorities. Democrats in the Legislature will not stop working until we get these bills across the finish line and deliver on our promises to Indian Country.”

Hanna Harris’s mother, Malinda Limberhand, joined Rep. Peppers to talk about her painful experiences with the legal system when Hanna went missing.

“I’m just a regular person,” said Malinda Limberhand, mother of Hanna Harris. “I had to lose my daughter in order to get here for my voice to be heard. But now that I’m here, I’m standing here wanting justice—not just for my daughter, but for all the Native Americans in the state of Montana, whether they be on or off the reservation.”