Environment

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 14, 2025

LC 3065: Permitting reimbursements to all individuals for receipts of costs incurred related to the hunting or trapping of wolves for all lawfully harvested wolves

This bill allows licensed hunters and trappers in Montana to receive reimbursements for costs incurred when lawfully harvesting wolves. The provision creates an exception to existing rules that generally prohibit giving prizes or gifts for hunting or trapping activities. Under this change, individuals who legally harvest wolves can be compensated for their expenses related to the hunt or trap. The bill amends state law to specifically permit these reimbursements while maintaining restrictions on other types of contests or prizes for wildlife.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill provides financial incentives for wolf harvesting, which may undermine conservation efforts and weaken environmental protections for wildlife populations.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 10, 2024

LC 413: Revise FWP crimestoppers program to allow financial rewards and reward permits

This bill amends Montana law to allow the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to offer financial rewards and reward permits to the public as part of its Crimestoppers program. The changes enable the department to provide monetary incentives to citizens who provide information that helps detect and prosecute crimes related to fish, wildlife, and parks. By adding these specific options, the program can more actively encourage public cooperation in reporting illegal activities without requiring new funding sources. The amendment updates the relevant statute to explicitly authorize these reward mechanisms alongside existing program functions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances public cooperation in crime reporting through financial incentives, strengthening law enforcement capabilities in wildlife crime prosecution75% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by enabling public cooperation to report wildlife crimes, helping conserve natural resources and enforce conservation laws.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 6, 2025

LC 222: Revise commercial property assessed clean energy laws

This bill amends Montana's Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to expand financing opportunities for multifamily housing facilities with at least five residential units. It updates legal definitions to explicitly include multifamily properties and clarifies what qualifies as an energy conservation measure, such as insulation, window upgrades, HVAC modifications, and electric vehicle charging stations. The changes allow local governments to establish districts within their jurisdictions to administer these financing programs, enabling property owners to pay for energy efficiency improvements through property assessments rather than traditional loans. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the legislature.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill expands PACE financing for multifamily housing energy efficiency upgrades including insulation, windows, HVAC, and EV charging stations.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands clean energy financing for multifamily housing, promoting energy conservation measures like insulation, window upgrades, and EV charging stations, directly supporting environmental protection and clean energy adoption.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill expands PACE financing for multifamily housing, enabling energy upgrades that improve housing quality and sustainability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 30, 2025

LC 3265: Resolution regarding electric vehicles

This Montana joint resolution asks the U.S. Congress to remove any federal requirements or obligations to purchase electric vehicles. The bill directly affects Montana residents and government entities by requesting the elimination of federal mandates that would require vehicle purchases. Key provisions include thanking President Trump for eliminating the EV mandate and affirming the state's belief that Montanans should have the freedom to choose between electric and gas-powered vehicles based on their specific needs. The resolution also directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to federal officials and members of the Montana Congressional Delegation.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill seeks to eliminate federal EV mandates, which restricts renewable energy adoption and electric vehicle infrastructure development85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill seeks to eliminate federal EV mandates, which would reduce electric vehicle adoption and weaken environmental protections by limiting clean energy transportation options.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 1392: Require rules to limit GHG emissions

This bill directs the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to create rules that limit greenhouse gas emissions to protect public health, safety, welfare, and the environment. It expands the department's existing authority to regulate air pollutants by explicitly requiring it to develop emission limits while exempting certain agricultural and forestry activities from new permitting requirements. The legislation also allows the department to require access to emissions-related records and establish fees for permits and applications. These changes apply to the state environmental agency and any entities subject to its air quality regulations, with specific carve-outs for short-term agricultural and forestry operations.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill restricts energy production by requiring GHG emission limits, which would constrain fossil fuel and other energy sources.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly requires limiting greenhouse gas emissions to protect environment and public health, strengthening environmental regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Climate Change Forestry

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 1992: Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process

This bill updates penalties for violations of Montana's Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act, affecting individuals who work on streambed projects without proper permits or consent. It increases the maximum civil penalty for each day of continuing violation from $500 to $5,000 and clarifies that each day of violation counts as a separate offense. The bill also outlines how courts can order restoration of damaged streams and specifies which court handles cases depending on the cost of restoration. Additionally, it directs how recovered fines and penalties must be deposited into county funds.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by increasing penalties for streambed violations and clarifying restoration requirements under Montana's Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 12, 2025

LC 1971: Phase out polystyrene single use food containers

This bill prohibits Montana food businesses from using polystyrene foam containers, commonly known as Styrofoam, in a phased timeline starting in 2028. Restaurants and food establishments must stop serving food in these containers by January 1, 2028, while hotels and resorts must also stop providing them by January 1, 2029. Bakery and food packaging businesses must cease using polystyrene foam containers by January 1, 2030. The law allows exemptions for cases of undue hardship or specific uses related to transportation, construction, health, or safety, which require application fees to fund environmental cleanup efforts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prohibits single-use polystyrene containers to reduce pollution and environmental waste, directly advancing environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 1657: Declare authority over existing fossil-fuel fired electric generating units

This bill declares that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality has full authority over air quality, water quality, and emissions standards for existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units within the state. It designates the department as the sole oversight and permitting authority for coal, natural gas, and oil power plants currently operating in Montana, while asserting that federal agencies lack authority to regulate these facilities without significant economic investment from owners and ratepayers. The legislation includes a contingency clause that would void the bill if the federal Environmental Protection Agency repeals specific rules from May 2024, and it takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill strengthens state authority over fossil fuel plant regulations, enabling better environmental oversight and potential emissions standards that align with clean energy goals.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental oversight by granting state authority over emissions and air/water quality standards for fossil fuel plants, enhancing environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Air Quality Water Quality

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 21, 2025

LC 3452: Repeal numeric nutrient standards

This bill directs Montana's Department of Environmental Quality to remove all references to numeric nutrient standards from state administrative rules and repeal the 2015 base numeric nutrient standards that were previously adopted. It affects water quality regulators, wastewater treatment facilities, and other entities subject to nutrient discharge regulations by eliminating specific numerical limits for pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus. The legislation also eliminates the Nutrient Work Group and amends state law to shift toward narrative nutrient standards, which describe water quality goals in descriptive terms rather than specific numerical thresholds. By repealing these standards, the bill aims to reduce regulatory burdens on municipal wastewater systems and align state policy with the 2021 legislative decision to move away from numeric criteria.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes numeric nutrient standards and eliminates numerical limits for pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus, weakening environmental protections and allowing increased pollution.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 1509: Revise mine reclamation laws

This bill revises Montana's mine reclamation laws by updating definitions and clarifying requirements for mining permits. It directly affects mining companies and the state's environmental review board by establishing clearer standards for terms like "abandoned" operations, "adjacent area," and "approximate original contour" for land restoration. The legislation grants rulemaking authority to the department and specifies how hydrologic and geologic information must be included in permits, while also defining what constitutes an amendment to a mining plan. These changes aim to improve consistency in how mining operations are regulated and how land must be restored after extraction.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens mine reclamation laws by clarifying environmental definitions and requiring hydrologic/geologic data in permits, enhancing environmental protection standards.85% confidence

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