A bill that would ratify the contentious water rights compact for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes will face its first House hearing Saturday in the chamber’s Judiciary Committee.

Sponsored by state Sen. Chas Vincent, R-Libby, Senate Bill 262 would ratify the compact, a negotiated settlement that quantifies the tribes’ water rights on and off the reservation.

The proposed compact would cost the state $55 million and guarantee the tribes minimum “in-stream flows” both on and off the reservation. It also aims to provide irrigators on the reservation with water quantities based on historic deliveries to farms and ranches.

Supporters argue that the compact is necessary to avoid thousands of far-reaching water rights claims threatened by the tribes. Opponents contend it is an unnecessary giveaway of state constitutional authority over water rights based on a misreading of an 1855 treaty.

The Senate passed the bill by a 31-19 vote Feb. 26, after a blast motion on the floor pulled it from the Sen. Finance and Claims Committee. It is expected to face a closer final vote in the House.

This is the second attempt to get the compact through the Legislature. In 2013 the compact died in the House Judiciary Committee.

The hearing is open to the public and begins Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m., in State Capitol Room 303 in Helena.

A local group in opposition to the water compact has buses traveling to Helena early Saturday morning. A few seats may still be available for residents in Flathead County. Call 755-5714 for more information.