Environment

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 23, 2025

LC 2392: Feasibility allowance for nondegradation policy

This bill establishes a feasibility allowance process that allows energy development projects to temporarily exceed water quality standards for high-quality waters under specific conditions. It directly affects energy developers, environmental agencies, and communities near water bodies by creating a formal mechanism to evaluate whether proposed infrastructure projects can proceed without causing significant water quality degradation. The legislation defines key terms such as "energy development project," "high-quality waters," and "associated supporting infrastructure" to clarify what qualifies for the allowance and sets rules for how the Department of Environmental Quality must assess feasibility requests. By amending existing statutes and administrative rules, the bill provides the department with authority to issue permits that permit limited water quality changes while maintaining overall protection standards.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill allows temporary exceedance of water quality standards for energy projects, weakening environmental protections and permitting potential pollution.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 14, 2025

LC 975: Creating the private property protection act

This bill establishes the Private Property Protection Act to strengthen private property rights by limiting government restrictions on property use. It requires that any law or regulation restricting private property must be necessary and narrowly tailored to serve a compelling interest in public health or safety. Property owners can sue in court to challenge restrictions that violate these requirements, and if they win, the court will stop enforcement and award attorney fees. The law applies to all state and local government actions but excludes nuisance abatement, permit enforcement, and court-ordered actions.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill limits government restrictions on property use and requires regulations to be narrowly tailored, which could weaken environmental protections and conservation requirements.85% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill limits government restrictions on property use, which could reduce tenant protections and affordable housing development by weakening regulatory oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Taxes Tenant Rights

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 220: Exempt Commerce grants and loans from MEPA

This bill exempts various Montana state departments and commissions from environmental review requirements when creating or administering specific grant and loan programs. It directly affects agencies responsible for economic development, housing, tourism, and cultural preservation by removing the need for environmental assessments under the Montana Environmental Policy Act for these activities. The exemption covers programs related to microbusiness development, historic preservation, workforce training, agritourism, housing financing, and other economic initiatives, allowing these agencies to proceed without the standard environmental review process. The law also requires notifying federally recognized tribal governments and takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes environmental review requirements under MEPA for state grants and loans, weakening environmental protections and allowing projects without environmental assessments.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling

Track

passed · Montana · House Feb 10, 2025

HR 2: Resolution supporting the exploration development, processing and refining of critical minerals

This Montana House resolution (HR 2) expresses legislative support for expanding critical minerals development within the state. It urges state, federal, tribal, and local entities to advance exploration, processing, and recycling of minerals like rare earth elements, platinum group metals, and others found in Montana's geology. The resolution highlights Montana's existing mining infrastructure and aims to strengthen domestic supply chains for technologies, energy, and defense - reducing reliance on foreign sources like China. As a symbolic resolution (not binding law), it directs Montana's delegation to advocate for these projects but does not create new regulations or funding.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly supports critical minerals development for energy supply chains, aligning with renewable energy infrastructure needs as stated in its summary.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prioritizes mining development without environmental safeguards, advancing industry over conservation and pollution control in mineral extraction.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 222: Creating open wolf hunting season until the population is 600 or fewer

HB 222 proposed creating a year-round open wolf hunting season in Montana. This season would have an unlimited quota, meaning there would be no limit on the number of wolves that could be hunted. The hunting season would continue until the statewide wolf population reached 600 or fewer, at which point it could be closed. The bill aimed to amend existing state law to mandate that the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission authorize this specific wolf hunting season.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill mandates unrestricted wolf hunting to reduce population below conservation levels, directly opposing wildlife protection efforts and conservation requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

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

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 782: Revise local planning board laws

HB 782 revises the membership requirements for county planning boards. This bill changes a provision that currently mandates at least one member of a county planning board must also be a member of a conservation district or a state cooperative grazing district. If enacted, county planning boards would instead have the option to include such a member, rather than being required to. This directly affects how county planning boards are constituted and who serves on them.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves mandatory conservation district representation on planning boards, weakening environmental input in local land-use decisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

Track

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SJ 14: Resolution to release federal wilderness study areas

Montana's SJ 14 is a state legislative resolution requesting the federal government release over 660,000 acres of designated wilderness study areas from consideration for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. It specifically targets seven Montana wilderness study areas (including West Pioneer, Sapphire, and Big Snowies) and 37 Bureau of Land Management wilderness study areas that have remained in legal limbo since the 1977 Montana Wilderness Study Act. The resolution argues these lands are hindering multiple-use management (like timber harvesting and agriculture) and causing federal management uncertainty, and asks for their formal release to allow standard federal land management under the National Forest Management Act. The resolution was tabled in committee and died in process in 2025, so it has not become law.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill seeks to release wilderness study areas from federal preservation, removing conservation protections and enabling potential development on protected lands.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 139: Revise laws related to mule deer buck hunting in November

HB 139 aimed to revise laws related to mule deer buck hunting in Montana, directly affecting hunters and the state's Fish, Wildlife & Parks commission. The bill would have restricted the commission's ability to close mule deer buck hunting during the general rifle season in November. Specifically, it would have prohibited closures in more than 20% of hunting districts per season, for more than two years within a six-year period in any district, or prior to November 6 in any district. These new restrictions would not have applied to any district closures already in place before December 1, 2024.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill restricts wildlife commission's ability to close hunting areas, limiting conservation measures for mule deer populations and weakening protective regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 340: Generally revise laws relating to challenges brought under MEPA

SB 340, introduced by Senator D. Zolnikov, would have revised Montana’s environmental law by adding a $240 fee for filing lawsuits challenging agency decisions under the Montana Environmental Protection Act (MEPA). It would have required plaintiffs to cover agency costs for preparing records, limited follow-up lawsuits to new issues only, and prohibited courts from awarding attorney fees or costs to winning plaintiffs. The bill directed the $240 fee to the state’s environmental rehabilitation account, which funds mine reclamation and hazardous waste cleanup. However, the bill died in committee in May 2025 and never became law.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAdds $240 fee and barriers to MEPA lawsuits, reducing legal challenges to environmental agency decisions and weakening enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials

Track