Environment

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 813: Provide for the agricultural emissions right to repair act

HB 813, known as the "Agricultural Emissions Right to Repair Act," aimed to revise laws concerning the repair and maintenance of agricultural equipment. The bill would have required original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide independent repair providers and equipment owners with documentation, parts, and tools necessary for diagnosing, maintaining, and repairing agricultural equipment *emission systems*. These resources were to be made available on "fair and reasonable terms," and the bill prohibited practices such as parts pairing that could hinder repairs. The goal was to ensure greater access to the resources needed for fixing emissions-related components on agricultural machinery.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates OEMs provide repair resources for agricultural equipment emission systems, enabling proper maintenance to reduce emissions and support environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 101: Reclassify wolves as furbearers and align existing wolf tagging and furbearer hunting restrictions

HB 101 reclassifies gray wolves as furbearers, integrating them into existing furbearer hunting and trapping regulations. The bill establishes specific wolf hunting licenses for residents and nonresidents, outlining associated fees and tagging requirements for harvested wolves. It introduces new management provisions, allowing for more liberal harvest opportunities such as multiple licenses per individual, the use of bait for trapping, and night hunting on private lands. Additionally, the bill permits landowners to take wolves threatening human safety, livestock, or dogs on their property without a license under specific reporting requirements and a quota.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentReclassifies wolves as furbearers, enabling increased hunting/trapping (multiple licenses, baiting, night hunting), weakening conservation protections for a species often requiring protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 889: Revise local growth policy and county zoning laws

HB 889 aimed to revise laws governing local government land use regulations and county zoning. The bill proposed that certain requirements related to "sensitive lands" could not be included in growth policies for areas located outside of city limits. It also detailed the required contents for local growth policies, affecting how counties and cities plan for future development and manage resources. This legislation would have impacted local governments' authority over land use planning in unincorporated areas.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes 'sensitive lands' requirements from county zoning outside cities, weakening protections for environmentally sensitive areas by limiting local government authority over development in ecologically important zones.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 229: Generally revise Montana environmental policy act to Implement court decision

HB 229 aimed to revise the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) to implement a Montana Supreme Court decision. The bill would have removed the prohibition on state agencies evaluating greenhouse gas emissions during environmental reviews for projects. It also sought to clarify MEPA's purpose, focusing on public information and considering environmental impacts, while setting criteria for analyzing project alternatives and potential impacts on private property rights. This would have affected how state agencies conduct environmental assessments and the scope of information considered for state-sponsored projects in Montana.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves prohibition on evaluating greenhouse gas emissions in environmental reviews, enabling consideration of climate impacts per court decision, strengthening MEPA's environmental review process.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 935: Limits to Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer withdrawals

HB 935 allows the department to temporarily suspend or close new permit applications for large groundwater appropriations (3,000 gallons per minute or more) from specific areas within the Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer. This action aims to balance water development with the protection of existing water rights. The bill also mandates the Bureau of Mines and Geology to conduct a feasibility study on groundwater availability in these areas. It appropriates $5,000 for this study, and the act's provisions are set to terminate on June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts large groundwater withdrawals to protect aquifer (natural resource) and mandates study for sustainable management, aligning with conservation goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 932: Generally revise conservation financing laws

House Bill 932 revises laws related to funding for conservation efforts, primarily by reallocating a portion of the state's marijuana tax revenue. The bill establishes a new Habitat Legacy Account, which receives 20% of the net balance from the Marijuana State Special Revenue Account after an initial transfer. Funds from this Habitat Legacy Account are then distributed into three other new accounts. These accounts are dedicated to securing wildlife habitat, funding wildlife improvement projects, and supporting the design and construction of big game and wildlife highway crossings to enhance animal movement and safety. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is responsible for administering these new accounts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates Habitat Legacy Account using marijuana tax revenue to fund wildlife habitat conservation and improvement projects, directly advancing environmental protection through dedicated funding streams.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 6: Renewable resource grants

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5.25M for infrastructure grants via DNRC, directly funding state budget priorities without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAllocates funds for renewable resource grants and infrastructure projects, directly advancing clean energy initiatives per bill title and summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds nonpoint source pollution reduction and wastewater infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection through targeted grants and conservation-focused allocations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 31: Revise wind and solar facility decommissioning

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates decommissioning plans and bonds for wind/solar facilities, ensuring environmental protection and long-term renewable energy infrastructure viability.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates decommissioning plans and bonds to prevent environmental damage from abandoned renewable energy facilities, ensuring post-operation site restoration.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 55: Revising public utility resource planning laws

HB 55 revises the laws governing how public utilities plan for their customers' future energy needs. It requires public utilities to submit detailed resource plans every three years, including evaluations of renewable energy and demand-side management scenarios, and to hold more public meetings before submitting these plans. The bill establishes a special revenue account within the Department of Environmental Quality to fund an independent evaluator, paid for by fees charged to public utilities, who will assist in reviewing these plans. Additionally, the state commission can now engage independent consultants to evaluate utility plans, with these costs being recoverable in rates charged to customers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes special revenue account funded by utility fees to support independent evaluation, directly advancing fiscal oversight under appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates evaluation of renewable energy scenarios and demand-side management in utility planning, advancing renewable integration and efficiency standards.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires renewable energy evaluations in utility plans and funds DEQ independent evaluator via utility fees, advancing clean energy planning and environmental oversight.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 7: Reclamation and development grants

HB 7 implements and funds the reclamation and development grants program, appropriating over $13.9 million from the natural resources projects state special revenue account. The bill allocates funds to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) for grants beginning July 1, 2025. These grants support planning for reclamation and development projects, pilot water storage initiatives, and specific prioritized projects for political subdivisions and local governments. Grant recipients, which include various counties, cities, and state agencies, must meet conditions such as having an approved project scope, securing matching funds, and complying with auditing requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $13.9M from special revenue account for natural resource grants, directly funding state programs under Budget & Taxes appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates $13.9M for reclamation projects and water storage initiatives under DNRC, directly funding environmental protection and natural resource conservation as indicated by its subjects and purpose.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment