This bill allocates $210,000 from the general license account to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to hire two full-time bear technicians for Region 3, which covers southwest Montana. The funding is intended to help the agency manage conflicts between expanding grizzly bear populations and increasing human development in the area. The money will supplement existing base funding and is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2025, with the legislature planning for the 2027 appropriation to become part of future base funding.
This bill creates a certification program for prescribed fire managers in Montana and limits their liability when conducting controlled burns. It requires individuals who manage prescribed fires to complete training covering safety, weather, fire behavior, and other relevant topics, while allowing the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to set rules for certification, fees, and standards. The legislation provides legal protection for certified managers and compliant landowners from liability for wildfires, except in cases of negligence or when their actions directly caused the fire to spread. Additionally, the bill mandates written permits for all prescribed fires and expands permit requirements to include slash-burning and land-clearing fires during wildfire season, while exempting small recreational fires under specific conditions.
This bill amends Montana's Environmental Policy Act to comply with a state Supreme Court ruling, requiring state agencies to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions in environmental reviews. It removes previous language that prohibited considering greenhouse gases and mandates that agencies analyze alternatives to proposed projects, including a meaningful no-action alternative that assesses environmental, social, and economic impacts if a project is not completed. The changes also require agencies to examine how regulations affect private property rights and ensure that environmental assessments include customer fiscal impact analyses where applicable. These provisions apply to all state agencies except the legislature and affect the process for reviewing state-sponsored projects that could impact Montana's environment.
This bill amends Montana laws to strengthen penalties for using vehicles or devices to harass, harm, or kill wild animals such as game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, and predatory animals. It prohibits activities like chasing, flushing, or tormenting these animals with motorized vehicles, aircraft, or snow machines, while allowing exceptions for landowners protecting property and individuals following lawful hunting or wildlife management practices. The legislation increases fines and potential prison time for violations, with harsher penalties for repeat offenses, and mandates the forfeiture of hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses for a set period depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.
This bill requires state agencies in Montana to conduct greenhouse gas assessments for proposed fossil fuel projects as part of their environmental reviews under the Montana Environmental Policy Act. The legislation clarifies that while agencies cannot deny permits based on greenhouse gas emissions, they must still analyze these emissions for fossil fuel activities to inform the public about potential impacts. The bill amends existing environmental review statutes to mandate this analysis for fossil fuel projects while maintaining that greenhouse gases will not be regulated through this process. State agencies conducting environmental reviews will follow updated guidelines that specify when greenhouse gas assessments are required versus optional.
This bill updates Montana laws to regulate public charging stations for electric vehicles by establishing clear definitions, tax requirements, and metering standards. It directly affects charging station operators, owners, and public utilities by requiring new stations to have separate electric meters starting in 2023 and mandating that all existing public charging stations be metered by 2025. The legislation also introduces a 3-cent per kilowatt-hour tax on electricity used at public charging stations and requires operators to display charging rates at their sites. Additionally, the bill reduces electric vehicle registration fees by 30% beginning in 2028 and requires charging station owners to register their facilities with the Department of Transportation.
This bill updates Montana's Department of Commerce laws to clarify how lodging facility use tax revenue is collected and distributed across various state programs. It establishes specific percentages of tax proceeds that must be allocated to agencies including the Montana Historical Society, University System, Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks, and regional tourism corporations to support historical preservation, travel research, park maintenance, and tourism marketing. The legislation also expands the Emergency Lodging for Victims of Domestic Violence or Human Trafficking program by making it permanent and increasing its funding share from the tax revenue. Additionally, it creates conditions where funds may be redirected to nonprofit convention and visitors bureaus in certain areas or used for state tourism promotion if regional tourism corporations fail to submit approved marketing plans.
This bill creates a Local Emergency Quick Response Program to provide financial assistance to property owners in rural areas of Montana who suffer damage from catastrophic natural events. The program allows conservation districts to distribute funds to cover specific recovery needs such as removing fallen trees, clearing fire hazards, purchasing livestock feed, and repairing damaged fences. Funding is available on a cost-share basis where the state covers up to 75% of eligible costs, with property owners required to contribute the remaining portion and conservation districts retaining up to 7% for administrative expenses. The legislation appropriates $8 million for the 2025-2026 biennium, with $1 million allocated quarterly, and requires applications to be submitted within 60 days of a county emergency resolution.
This bill revises Montana water rights laws to clarify definitions related to exempt wells and groundwater management. It directly affects landowners, water users, and the Department of Natural Resources by updating how terms like "appropriation," "beneficial use," and "combined appropriation" are defined. The legislation provides clearer rules for groundwater projects, aquifer recharge, and instream flow protections, while establishing new rulemaking authority for the state department. These changes aim to modernize water rights terminology and improve consistency in how water withdrawals and uses are classified under state law.
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.
