SB 168 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Revise laws related to lakeshore protection

SB 168 revises laws regarding lakeshore protection, primarily affecting property owners and contractors with structures in lakeshore protection zones. The bill establishes a 3-year statute of limitations for legal actions against these parties for violating lakeshore regulations, starting from construction completion or permit issuance for clearly visible structures. This limitation does not apply if the structure causes documented harm to the lakeshore, interferes with navigation, or creates a public nuisance. Additionally, the bill exempts minor ongoing maintenance, remodeling, or modifications (changes under $10,000 over five years) from future permitting requirements, unless they involve significant environmental impact or interfere with navigation.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0168_2(13).pdf SB0168_X.pdf · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was converted from a draft version to an enrolled, final version ready for signing. The substantive policy text regarding lake protection rules, the three-year statute of limitations, and exemptions for minor maintenance remains identical, with no changes to the law's actual requirements or scope.
Scope change
No change in scope or applicability; the bill's legal effect is identical to the draft version.
TECHNICAL

The document format was finalized by removing draft headers and adding certification signatures, titles, and page markers required for an official enrolled bill.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

446
Passed
Total votes 50
Feb 18, 2025
D Democratic18
12 Yea 6 Nay
66% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
37
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (64-35-1)
house
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Local Government
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Local Government
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Local Government
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (44-6)
senate
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Local Government
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Local Government
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Local Government
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Greg Hertz
Greg Hertz
RRepublican
MT
7