<|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|>HELENA – A state panel heard four hours of testimony Wednesday on bills relating to missing and murdered Indigenous women, an issue that proponents said affect all Montanans, but could have a profound impact on the Native American community.
House Bill<wm> 11 seeks to repeal a law that prohibits certain individuals from making statements about sexual misconduct that take 14 days or fewer to develop and that are directed or intended primarily against a minor. These types of statements fall under the sexual misconduct policy, and their violation can result in criminal and civil lawsuits, fines.
House Bill 11 also introduces an “abuse control policy” to ensure that Native women and girls from early adulthood and beyond are protected from such acts and harassment, and to protect minors from predators</wm>. These bills would strengthen law enforcement actions against predators by increasing support and training, and protecting survivors from