HB 7: Reclamation and development grants - Montana

HB0007_X(1).pdf → HB0007_X(2).pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to increase specific grant funding amounts, clarify the distribution of funds to political subdivisions, and introduce new administrative requirements for grant recipients. These changes aim to provide more precise financial allocations and ensure better project management and financial accountability for the reclamation and development projects.

Scope change

The scope of funding was expanded and clarified, with specific dollar amounts adjusted and new priority projects added to the list of eligible recipients.

FISCAL

The appropriation for pilot water storage planning grants was increased from $5.3 million to $5,523,260, and the allocation for general reclamation grants was adjusted from $7.1 million to $5.5 million.

A new priority grant of $500,000 was added for the Milk River Joint Board of Control for the Fresno Dam and Spillway Rehabilitation Project.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added mandating that grant recipients document committed matching funds, submit an approved project management plan, and establish a financial accounting system that complies with generally accepted accounting principles.

ELIGIBILITY

The rule preventing recipients from using funds from two different grant programs for the same project was updated to clarify that this restriction applies to the reclamation and renewable resource programs.

HB0007_3(9).pdf → HB0007_X.pdf · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Montana Reclamation and Development Grants Program by reducing the total appropriation amount and reorganizing the list of funded projects. The changes ensure that specific grant recipients receive designated funds for environmental remediation, water infrastructure, and flood mitigation projects starting July 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the Reclamation and Development Grants Program, but the specific projects eligible for funding and the total budget available have been modified.

FISCAL

The total appropriation for general reclamation and development projects was reduced from $1.5 million to $750,000, while a new specific appropriation of $5.3 million was added for pilot water storage planning.

The specific grant amounts for individual projects were adjusted, with some amounts reduced (e.g., Flint Creek Watershed project reduced from $300,000 to $200,000) and new projects added to the priority list.

A new line item was added to fund the 'DNRC Willow Creek Dam Rehabilitation Painted Rocks Dam Rehabilitation Phase I' project for $500,000.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the funding distribution was explicitly set to begin July 1, 2025, for the updated appropriations.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was renumbered and reorganized to reflect the new funding structure and project list, correcting section references.

HB0007_2(15).pdf → HB0007_3.pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from HB 7.2 to HB 7.3, likely reflecting a revision or new version. The most significant substantive change is a substantial increase in the appropriated funding for natural resources projects, rising from $3,774,208 to $5,523,260. Minor text edits were made to improve sentence flow and clarify the source of the funds.

FISCAL

The total appropriation for grants to political subdivisions and local governments was increased from $3,774,208 to $5,523,260.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was updated from HB0007.2 to HB0007.3.

Minor phrasing adjustments were made to clarify that funds are drawn from the 'state special revenue account' and to smooth the flow of sentences regarding grant conditions.

HB0007_2(5).pdf → HB0007_2(6).pdf · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill text was updated to correct the formatting of a line item for the DNRC Willow Creek Dam Rehabilitation project, ensuring consistent capitalization and alignment. This change does not alter the project's funding amount, eligibility, or any substantive policy requirements.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the capitalization of the project name 'DNRC WILLOW CREEK DAM REHABILITATION' and adjusted the line spacing to match the standard formatting used for other items in the document.

HB0007_2(4).pdf → HB0007_2(5).pdf · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill updates the numbering of subsections in the funding priority and grant allocation sections to reflect a reorganization of the legislative text. These changes are primarily technical formatting adjustments that align the bill's internal structure with the 2025 legislative session.

TECHNICAL

Subsection numbers were updated in the grant priority and project listing sections to shift from a (3) and (4) format to a (2) and (3) format, likely due to a renumbering of preceding sections.

HB0007_2(3).pdf → HB0007_2(4).pdf · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add specific funding allocations totaling approximately $7.1 million for reclamation and development projects starting July 1, 2025, replacing a previous $5.3 million pilot program. The changes establish a detailed priority list of 17 specific projects and recipients, ranging from mine remediation to flood mitigation, with exact dollar amounts assigned to each. Additionally, new sections were added to prevent recipients from double-dipping funds from different programs and to mandate that grant recipients maintain approved project scopes and budgets.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general pilot program to a specific appropriations act detailing exact funding amounts and a ranked list of eligible projects.

FISCAL

Added a specific appropriation of $7,110,975 from the natural resources projects state special revenue account, replacing the previous $5.3 million pilot funding.

ELIGIBILITY

Inserted a detailed priority list of 17 specific projects and applicants with exact funding amounts, replacing general grant language.

REQUIREMENT

Added new sections prohibiting grant recipients from receiving funds from both the reclamation and development grants program and the renewable resource grant and loan program for the same project during the same biennium.

Added conditions requiring grant recipients to have a scope of work, schedule, and budget approved by the department, with restrictions on altering project goals after legislative approval.

TIMELINE

Confirmed the effective date for these specific appropriations as beginning July 1, 2025.

HB0007_1(7).pdf → HB0007_2.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill significantly reduced the funding for reclamation and development grants, cutting the general planning budget by 50% and the pilot water storage budget by over half. Additionally, the specific dollar amounts allocated to individual projects were reduced or eliminated, meaning fewer projects will receive funding than originally planned. The bill also renumbered several subsections, likely due to the removal of the pilot water storage section.

FISCAL

The appropriation for general reclamation and development planning was reduced from $1.5 million to $750,000.

The appropriation for pilot water storage planning and projects was reduced from $5.3 million to $3,774,208.

The specific dollar amounts for individual grant projects were lowered or removed entirely, reducing the total number of funded projects.

TECHNICAL

Several subsections were renumbered (e.g., subsection (2) became (3), and subsection (3) became (4)) following the deletion of the pilot water storage section.

LC0712.pdf → HB0007_1.pdf · 3 edits

MINOR

The document was converted from a legislative committee report (LC 0712) into an official House Bill (HB 7). This change formalizes the bill for introduction and printing, replacing the committee designation with the bill number and adding the primary sponsor's name.

Scope change

The bill's substantive scope and applicability remain unchanged; the modifications are purely administrative and formatting.

TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from LC 0712 to HB 7, and the document title was updated to 'Authorized Print Version - HB 7'.

The primary sponsor's name, J. Fitzpatrick, was added to the bill header.

The 'Introduced by' blank line and the specific committee designation were removed as the bill is now formally numbered.

Reclamation and development grants

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