HB 180 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise sanitation in subdivision laws related to mixing zones

HB 180 revises sanitation laws for subdivisions, focusing on "mixing zones" associated with subsurface wastewater treatment systems. The bill prohibits local boards of health from adopting regulations that would allow these mixing zones, which are areas where treated wastewater mixes with groundwater, to extend onto adjacent properties. This measure restricts the regulatory authority of local health boards and aims to protect adjacent property owners from encroachment by neighboring septic systems. It ensures that the environmental impact of such systems remains within the boundaries of the property where they are installed.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 8 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0180_2(11).pdf HB0180_X.pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill clarifies that local health boards cannot enforce sanitation rules on drainfield mixing zones that extend onto neighboring private property without the owner's permission. It also corrects a typo in the statute regarding water well drilling regulations.
Scope change
The bill explicitly excludes certain drainfield mixing zones from the Sanitation in Subdivisions Act when they encroach on adjacent property, preventing local boards from regulating those specific areas unilaterally.
REQUIREMENT

Added a prohibition for local boards of health from adopting regulations that allow mixing zones to encroach on adjacent property.

Corrected a grammatical error in the water well drilling section by removing a duplicate 'if'.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title and header to reflect the new language regarding mixing zones and drainfield exemptions.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 9, 2025 · House Jan 31, 2025

How they voted

490
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Apr 9, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
31 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 1, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (49-0-1)
senate
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Local Government
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Local Government
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Local Government
upper
Jan 31, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (99-0-1)
house
Jan 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Local Government
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Local Government
lower
Jan 13, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Local Government
lower
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Courtenay Sprunger
Courtenay Sprunger
RRepublican
MT
7