Environment

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 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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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2393: Provide nutrient pollutant loading offsets

This bill allows industrial facilities and other permitted water polluters in Montana to receive credits, known as nutrient pollutant loading offsets, when they reduce nutrient pollution in local watersheds. These credits enable facilities to legally discharge more nutrients or reduce pollution from other sources, provided the overall nutrient load in the watershed decreases. The law sets specific credit values based on where pollution reductions occur, awarding full credits for point source reductions, 80% for upstream nonpoint source reductions, and 50% for downstream nonpoint source reductions. It also directs the state environmental department to establish standardized credit amounts for conservation projects like riparian fencing, wetland development, and septic system removal. The bill requires the department to update existing policies and regulations to implement this nutrient trading system.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes nutrient pollution reduction in watersheds through offset credits, directly advancing environmental protection and water quality conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 9, 2025

LC 2550: Require fish, wildlife, and parks to publish a report detailing data on hunting districts

This bill requires Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to publish an annual public report containing data on hunting districts for elk, deer, and antelope. The report will include information on population numbers and management activities based on habitat estimates and population goals established in existing state law. This change directly affects hunters, landowners, and the general public by increasing transparency around wildlife management decisions. The bill amends existing state code to mandate this reporting requirement without altering other departmental powers or responsibilities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases transparency in wildlife management, promoting conservation of natural resources and habitat through data reporting on elk, deer, and antelope populations.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 646: Revise opencut notification laws

This bill revises Montana's opencut mining permit requirements to improve public notification and participation processes. It directly affects mining operators, landowners, and the Department of Environmental Quality by clarifying definitions and establishing new notification thresholds. Key provisions include redefining what constitutes an opencut operation, setting specific distance requirements for processing facilities and staging areas, and requiring permit applications to include detailed information when operations affect water resources or occur near 10 or more occupied dwelling units. The bill also grants rulemaking authority to the department and amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill improves public notification and participation in mining permits, strengthens environmental oversight, and clarifies definitions to better protect natural resources and community interests.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 2826: Establishing utility energy conservation efficiency standards

This bill establishes mandatory energy conservation efficiency standards for Montana investor-owned electric utilities, requiring them to implement programs that achieve specific energy savings targets. Utilities must conduct independent assessments every two years to identify cost-effective conservation opportunities and submit annual targets that cannot be lower than 1% of retail load. The Montana Utilities Commission will create rules to oversee program evaluation, fund allocation, and public communication while utilities must acquire all achievable energy conservation measures that are cost-effective for ratepayers. The legislation defines energy conservation investments to include efficient appliances, lighting, industrial equipment, and other demand-side programs that reduce electricity consumption.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes mandatory energy conservation efficiency standards for utilities, requiring energy savings targets and independent assessments to promote energy efficiency.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates energy conservation efficiency standards and requires utilities to achieve specific energy savings targets, directly promoting resource conservation and reducing environmental impact.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Utility Regulation Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 1302: Create auction or lottery licenses for antelope and swans

This bill allows Montana's wildlife commission to sell licenses for antelope and swans through either a competitive auction or a lottery system. The legislation permits wildlife conservation organizations focused on these species to conduct the sales if authorized, allowing them to keep up to 10% of proceeds to cover expenses. All remaining funds from these sales must be used by the state department to benefit antelope and migratory game bird management programs, separate from existing funding sources. The bill also gives the commission authority to create rules governing how these licenses are issued and how the auctions or lotteries are conducted.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds wildlife conservation programs for antelope and migratory game birds, supporting environmental protection and natural resource management.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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