HB 432 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise water laws concerning exceptions to change in appropriation right process

HB 432 revises water laws by creating exceptions to the standard process for changing water appropriation rights. It allows certain appropriators, including public water supply systems, individual well owners, and municipalities, to make specific changes without prior approval from the department. These changes include constructing redundant wells, replacing existing wells or points of diversion, and adjusting municipal places of use or stock watering systems. Instead of prior approval, appropriators must file a notice of change with the department within a set timeframe after completing the alteration, provided they meet specific conditions outlined in the bill.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0432_X(6).pdf HB0432_X(7).pdf · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill amended a requirement for water diversion systems by removing the obligation to annually report measured water data to the department. Previously, systems had to both measure and report all diverted water each year; now they only need to ensure water is measured, eliminating the reporting mandate.
Scope change
The bill's applicability to water diversion systems was narrowed by removing the reporting requirement while retaining the measurement requirement.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the annual reporting requirement for water diversion systems to the department, reducing administrative burden while maintaining measurement standards.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 28, 2025 · House Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

454
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Apr 28, 2025
D Democratic18
16 Yea 2 Nay
88% Yea
R Republican32
29 Yea 2 Nay 1
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
46
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 13, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (45-4-1)
senate
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Amended
(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Mar 4, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (93-6-1)
house
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Julie Darling
Julie Darling
RRepublican
MT
84