Provide for expedited processing in district courts of water cases arising under final decrees
SB 186 transitions water rights jurisdiction from Montana's Water Court back to local district courts once final decrees are issued for specific basins. It amends Montana Code sections to formally end the Water Court's operations, water divisions, and water judges after adjudication completes, directing district courts to handle enforcement and future cases. The bill reflects the original 1979 intent of Senate Bill 76, which created the Water Court as a temporary system for pre-1973 water rights. It does not change water rights law but shifts administrative responsibility to existing district courts as the Water Court's work concludes. The legislation aims to eliminate the Water Court entirely by transferring its remaining duties to local courts.
Bill status
died
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2025
Last action May 23, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
LC0436.pdf
→
SB0186_1.pdf
·
2 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from LC 436 to SB 186 and updated with a full list of sponsors. A new substantive provision was added granting water judges the authority to compel the joinder of non-parties in administrative hearings to ensure all interested parties are included in the process.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded by adding a specific enforcement mechanism for water judges to require non-parties to join ongoing administrative hearings.
TECHNICAL
The bill number changed from LC 436 to SB 186, and the header was updated to reflect the new bill number and include a list of sponsors.
REQUIREMENT
Added authority for the chief water judge and associate water judge to issue orders requiring non-parties to join administrative hearings, ensuring broader participation in water adjudication cases.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 1, 2025
How they voted
28–22
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 1, 2025
D
Democratic18
100% Yea
R
Republican32
68% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
27
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Mar 1, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (28-22)
senate
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Judiciary
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
(S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Barry Usher
RRepublican
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