HB 6 implements the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program by appropriating funds to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC). The bill allocates specific amounts for various grant types, including emergency projects, planning, irrigation development, private projects, and nonpoint source pollution reduction. Additionally, it appropriates $5.25 million for prioritized infrastructure grant projects to specific cities, towns, and water districts for improvements to wastewater systems, drinking water infrastructure, and stormwater control. Funds for these prioritized projects are awarded in a specified order until available money is expended.
HB 69 revises the fees for hard rock and rock products mining operations, directly affecting mining companies and small miners. It introduces several new fees, such as an annual administrative fee for small miners, exploration license renewal fees, and various operating and annual permit fees. The bill establishes a "Hard-rock mining permitting program account" to collect these fees, which the Department of Environmental Quality will use for administering and enforcing mining regulations. Additionally, it updates existing requirements for small miners regarding reclamation, bonding, and the use of specific processing methods.
HB 129 provides an income tax benefit for volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency care providers in Montana. The bill allows these "full-service volunteers" to subtract a specific amount from their taxable income. This deduction is designed to increase annually with an inflation factor. The legislation amends existing state tax code to implement these changes, with a delayed effective date.
HB 284 establishes the Montana University System Investigation Committee, composed of six legislators. This committee is tasked with investigating civil rights violations and acts of censorship within the Montana University System. It will gather testimony from students about their experiences or observations at public universities and colleges. The committee will then make findings and recommendations, which will be reported to various state and federal officials. The bill appropriates $13,500 for committee expenses and the committee will conclude its work by December 31, 2026.
HB 153 revises the laws governing Montana's School Funding Interim Commission, which is responsible for studying public school educational needs and funding. The bill alters the commission's membership to include various state education officials and sets an April 1 appointment deadline. For the 2025-2026 interim, it creates an "Innovation and Excellence in Education Working Group" to compare Montana's education policies with high-performing systems and develop improvement recommendations. The bill also designates a presiding officer and appropriates $10,000 for early commission activities.
HB 59 revises laws related to water well contractors, directly affecting individuals and firms involved in water well construction and maintenance. The bill clarifies that a licensed water well contractor must be the individual contracting for a firm and expands licensure requirements to include the abandonment or decommissioning of wells. It significantly increases the required surety bond for licensees from $4,000 to $25,000, and for firms from $10,000 to $25,000. Additionally, the bill updates complaint and investigation procedures, ensuring licensees have an opportunity to respond before disciplinary action.
HB 392, known as the "Child Digital Protection Act," revises laws concerning profitable family video content featuring minor children. It requires content creators who meet specific profit and content thresholds to contribute a percentage of their gross earnings into a trust for the minor child, accessible once the child reaches 18 years of age. Additionally, the bill grants individuals who were featured as minors in such content the right to request the permanent deletion of those video segments from online platforms upon reaching the age of majority.
HB 31 clarifies and revises the bonding requirements for wind and solar generation facility owners in Montana to ensure proper decommissioning. It mandates that facility owners submit a decommissioning plan and provide a bond to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) within specific timeframes after commencing commercial operation. The DEQ determines the bond amount based on factors like site characteristics and salvage value. The bill also outlines various exemptions for facilities already bonded elsewhere or meeting certain size and operation criteria, and establishes penalties for non-compliance.
HB 446 revises Montana's indecent exposure laws by creating a new offense. It makes it illegal for a person to knowingly expose their genitals or intimate parts in a public place to members of the opposite biological sex or opposite their assigned sex at birth. This applies to various public spaces, including restrooms, locker rooms, and schools, with exceptions for minors or individuals with developmental disabilities accompanied by guardians. The bill also adds this specific offense to the list of actions considered a "sexual offense," which may impact sexual offender registration requirements.
HB 444 revises laws related to residential tenants' security deposits, affecting both landlords and tenants. The bill allows landlords to provide certain notices, such as those regarding cleaning charges, to tenants via email if an address is provided in the rental agreement. It also authorizes landlords to return security deposits and accompanying damage lists electronically through electronic fund transfers. The bill specifies procedures for landlords to notify tenants about cleaning charges before making deductions, including a 24-hour period for tenants to complete cleaning in some cases. Landlords must still provide an itemized list of deductions and any remaining deposit within 30 days, or return the full deposit within 10 days if no deductions are made.
HB 84 establishes the "Prescribed Fire Manager Certification and Liability Act," which allows the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to create a certification program for individuals conducting prescribed fires. The bill authorizes the DNRC to develop training requirements, fees, and standards for this program. A key provision limits the liability of certified prescribed fire managers and landowners using them for property damage from wildfires that may arise from a prescribed fire, provided they comply with the act and rules. This protection does not apply if negligence or a higher degree of fault is proven. Additionally, the bill requires an official written permit from the recognized agency before any prescribed fire can be ignited.
HB 85 reinstates former employer contribution rates for four specific public employee retirement systems: the Judges', Highway Patrol Officers', Sheriffs', and Game Wardens' and Peace Officers' Retirement Systems. This directly impacts the governmental entities that employ these personnel and contribute to their pensions. The bill also amends the state's property tax levy calculation procedures, outlining how local governments determine their maximum mill levies based on factors like prior year assessments and newly taxable property. It specifically exempts certain levies, such as those funding the sheriffs' retirement system, from these new
