Repeal incumbent electric utility right of first refusal law

SB 119 would repeal Montana's existing law (Sections 69-5-201 and 69-5-202, MCA) that gave incumbent electric utilities the right of first refusal when selling utility assets. This means the bill would remove a legal priority allowing current utility companies to be offered the chance to purchase their own assets before other buyers. The change would directly affect incumbent electric utilities by eliminating this specific advantage in asset sales. The bill's core policy change is to allow new or competing utility providers to bid directly for assets without the incumbent utility having this automatic right. The bill was introduced but died in committee in May 2025 without becoming law.