HB 684 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Eliminate deadline for water quality data review

HB 684 eliminates a specific deadline that previously required the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to review data used for water quality assessments. This bill amends Section 75-5-702, MCA, removing the requirement for the DEQ to complete these data reviews within a set timeframe. This change primarily affects the DEQ's operational procedures for monitoring state waters and assessing their quality, as well as individuals and entities who submit water quality data for review.
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 24, 2025 Signed May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0684_X(1).pdf HB0684_X(2).pdf · 2 edits
MINOR
This bill extends the deadline for the Department of Environmental Quality to review water quality assessment data from 60 days to 180 days, allowing more time for thorough analysis. It also adds a new factor requiring the department to consider the degree of public interest and support when making decisions about water quality requests. These changes aim to balance more comprehensive review processes with greater public engagement.
Scope change
The bill expands the department's review timeline and adds a new consideration factor for public interest, affecting how water quality assessment requests are processed.
TIMELINE

Extended the department's data review deadline from 60 days to 180 days, providing more time for thorough evaluation of water quality assessment requests.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the department to consider the degree of public interest and support when evaluating water quality assessment requests.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025 · House Apr 17, 2025

How they voted

426
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 10, 2025
D Democratic18
12 Yea 6 Nay
66% Yea
R Republican32
30 Yea 2
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
42
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 17, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (95-3-2)
house
Apr 10, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (42-6-2)
senate
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
upper
Apr 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Steve Fitzpatrick
Steve Fitzpatrick
RRepublican
MT
24