This bill requires operators of coal-fired power plants in Montana to ensure permanent access to water for nearby cities and towns, even if the plant closes or retires. It mandates that operators maintain water conveyance systems until environmental contamination from the plant or its waste storage areas meets state cleanup standards. The legislation also updates legal definitions to clarify what constitutes "affected property" and "remediation" while establishing clearer financial assurance requirements for cleanup obligations. These changes directly impact coal plant operators and local municipalities by creating enforceable water supply protections and refining how cleanup responsibilities are defined and managed.
This bill allows Montana cities and towns to independently review and approve the design and construction of public water and sewer systems, including modifications to existing infrastructure. To exercise this authority, municipalities must hire or contract with a licensed professional engineer and establish a formal review program. The bill also requires these local review processes to comply with state environmental policies, property takings rules, and water quality standards. This change gives local governments more direct control over infrastructure projects within their jurisdictions while maintaining oversight through existing state regulations.
This bill (LC 3867) aimed to revise state laws governing public funding for wastewater treatment facilities, which would have directly affected local municipalities and public utilities managing these systems. However, the bill was drafted but never advanced beyond the initial drafting phase, as it "died in process" on May 23, 2025. The context provides no details about specific provisions, mechanisms, or policy changes the bill would have implemented. Since the bill was not enacted or debated, no concrete policy changes were made. No further information about its intended scope or effects is available in the provided records.
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 58 revises how state funds are distributed for environmental cleanup, specifically targeting abandoned mine sites and hazardous waste areas. The bill mandates a biennial transfer of $500,000 through June 2038 for long-term maintenance and water treatment at the CR Kendall mine reclamation site. It also extends the state's financial contribution for cleanup, operation, and maintenance at the Libby asbestos superfund site until June 2038. These provisions ensure continued funding for critical environmental remediation efforts managed by the Department of Environmental Quality.
HB 290 aimed to regulate products containing Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) within the state. Starting January 1, 2028, it would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of cosmetics, juvenile products, and menstrual products that contain intentionally added PFAS. Manufacturers would be required to provide a certificate of compliance for these products. Additionally, the bill would prohibit the use of class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS for training purposes from January 1, 2028, and regulate its emergency use at terminals, requiring annual notice and justification to the state fire marshal.
This Montana bill (LC 1155) requires the Department of Environmental Quality to amend a rule by January 2026, creating a new pathway for counties to exclude certain land uses from water quality review. Specifically, counties must demonstrate two conditions: (1) no drinking water wells in the area, and (2) absorption trenches (e.g., septic systems) located at least 1,000 feet from high-quality surface waters. The bill appropriates $10,000 from the general fund to support this rule change and provides guidance for the exclusion process. It takes effect upon passage, with the funding provision starting July 1, 2025.
LC 3522, titled "Generally revise water quality standards," was a bill intended to update state regulations governing clean water levels in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. It would have directly affected water quality regulators, industrial facilities, and wastewater treatment plants by changing the specific pollution limits they must meet. The bill's key mechanism involved revising numerical thresholds for contaminants like nutrients and chemicals to align with updated scientific research. However, the bill died in process on May 23, 2025, and never became law, so no policy changes were implemented.
This bill (LC 1855) aimed to update state water quality standards laws but was never enacted. It would have revised rules governing pollutants in waterways, directly affecting water regulators, industries discharging wastewater, and communities relying on clean water sources. The proposed changes included modernizing testing methods and setting updated limits for contaminants. However, the draft was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process on May 27, 2025, meaning no policy changes were implemented.
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.
