Environment

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 209: Revise term length of conservation easements

SB 209 limits conservation easements to a maximum term of 40 years (previously allowing perpetual terms), amending Montana law to require renewal for additional periods. It directly affects landowners who use conservation easements, prohibiting restrictions on agricultural activities for lands used for farming within the past decade and banning land conversion to federal control under such easements. Key provisions include revising definitions of "conservation easement" and "open-space land," and ensuring property tax assessments reflect the land's restricted use without lowering valuation. The bill does not change existing permitted easement restrictions (like limiting construction or development) but adds specific protections for agricultural use and landowner control.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentLimits conservation easements to 40 years (vs perpetual), prohibits agricultural restrictions, and bans federal land conversion, weakening long-term environmental protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 176: Require unlimited wolf hunting quota when population is at or above 450 wolves

House Bill 176 (HB 176) revises Montana's wolf hunting laws, primarily affecting the Fish and Wildlife Commission, wolf hunters, trappers, and landowners. The bill mandates an unlimited statewide gray wolf hunting quota when the state's wolf population reaches or exceeds 450 wolves. Under this quota, the Commission must authorize multiple hunting licenses per applicant, allow an individual to harvest an unlimited number of wolves, permit the use of bait for hunting or trapping, and allow night hunting on private lands with artificial light or night vision scopes. It also requires consistent data modeling for wolf population estimates.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes population limits on wolf hunting, weakening conservation protections for an ecosystem keystone species per Fish and Wildlife subjects.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 57: Designate quail as upland game bird

HB 57 would amend Montana law to officially include California quail and Gambel's quail in the state's definition of "upland game birds" under Section 87-2-101, MCA. This change would directly affect hunters and wildlife managers by adding these quail species to the list of birds subject to regulated hunting seasons, bag limits, and conservation practices already applied to birds like pheasants and grouse. The bill specifically updates the legal definition without altering hunting seasons or regulations, ensuring these quail would be managed under existing upland game bird frameworks. The bill was introduced by request of the Environmental Quality Council but died in process on May 22, 2025.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill formalizes quail conservation under existing wildlife management, aligning with conservation practices for upland game birds like pheasants and grouse.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 71: Revise special license requirements allowing second lion license and removing Tendoy sheep reporting

HB 71 revises Montana hunting rules by allowing hunters to obtain more than one mountain lion license in a single license year, removing a previous restriction that limited hunters to one lion license per year. It also eliminates mandatory reporting requirements for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks regarding harvests and tissue sampling from the Tendoy mountain sheep herd. These changes directly affect hunters seeking mountain lion licenses and the wildlife department’s reporting obligations. The bill amends Section 87-2-702 of Montana law to reflect these policy adjustments, focusing on simplifying licensing and reducing administrative reporting burdens.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves mandatory wildlife harvest reporting, weakening data-driven conservation for mountain lions and Tendoy sheep populations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 258: Requiring the extension of wolf hunting season

House Bill 258 (HB 258) aimed to revise laws concerning wolf hunting in Montana. The bill would have required the Fish and Wildlife Commission to authorize an annual wolf hunting season. Its main provision was to extend this wolf hunting season to conclude concurrently with the spring bear hunting season, allowing for specific regional adjustments by the commission. This legislation would have directly impacted wolf hunters and the state's wildlife management policies for wolves.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExtends wolf hunting season, potentially reducing wolf populations and weakening conservation efforts for a protected species under environmental protection policies.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

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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 19, 2025

HB 685: Feasibility allowance for nondegradation policy

HB 685 establishes a "feasibility allowance" as part of the state's water quality nondegradation policy. This allows individuals or entities seeking to degrade high-quality state waters to request this allowance when working to meet water quality standards. The bill revises certain definitions, including expanding who is considered an "interested person" to include those requesting such an allowance. It also amends administrative rules and grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Environmental Quality to implement these new provisions, directly affecting industries and projects that impact state waters.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAllows degradation of high-quality waters via 'feasibility allowance,' weakening nondegradation policy protections for water quality.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 923: Revise categorical exclusions from nondegradation authorization

HB 923 directs the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to amend its administrative rules by January 1, 2026. This amendment will create a new categorical exclusion from nondegradation authorization requirements. This exclusion applies to areas where a county commission demonstrates it has prohibited drinking water wells and ensures absorption trenches are at least 1,000 feet from downstream high-quality surface waters. The bill also appropriates $10,000 to the DEQ to implement these rule changes and provide guidance.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentCreates categorical exclusion from nondegradation rules, reducing regulatory requirements for water protection near development sites.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 684: Eliminate deadline for water quality data review

HB 684 eliminates a specific deadline that previously required the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to review data used for water quality assessments. This bill amends Section 75-5-702, MCA, removing the requirement for the DEQ to complete these data reviews within a set timeframe. This change primarily affects the DEQ's operational procedures for monitoring state waters and assessing their quality, as well as individuals and entities who submit water quality data for review.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentEliminates mandatory deadline for DEQ water quality data reviews, weakening oversight and environmental accountability procedures.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment