Environment (Conservation)

died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 2407: Establish program for improving wildlife habitat on state lands

This bill establishes a state grant program to improve wildlife habitat on Montana's state lands. It allows land users (lessees/permittees), non-profits, and state agencies like the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to apply for funding. Applicants must detail projects, secure land user and agency concurrence, and align with specific existing funding accounts (upland bird habitat, wetland, and wildlife habitat improvement accounts). Projects must meet wildlife requirements tied to these accounts, and the department must report funded projects to the legislature annually.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates grant program for wildlife habitat improvement on state lands, directly funding conservation of natural resources and wildlife habitats per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 533: Define public purpose of easements on state lands

This bill clarifies the definition of "public purpose" for granting easements on Montana state lands. It specifically updates the legal list of acceptable uses to include conservation easements for the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (for parcels surrounded by their land as of 2001) and for certain nonprofit conservation groups. The bill also formally lists cemeteries, community buildings, and public trails as qualifying public uses, while maintaining existing provisions for schools, parks, and utility infrastructure. This change directly affects landowners, state agencies, and nonprofits seeking easements on state lands.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExplicitly adds conservation easements for wildlife dept and nonprofits to public purpose list, advancing land conservation efforts on state lands.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 6: Renewable resource grants

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5.25M for infrastructure grants via DNRC, directly funding state budget priorities without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAllocates funds for renewable resource grants and infrastructure projects, directly advancing clean energy initiatives per bill title and summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds nonpoint source pollution reduction and wastewater infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection through targeted grants and conservation-focused allocations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Conservation Drinking Water Water Quality

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 47: Revise state building energy conservation program

HB 47 revises the State Building Energy Conservation Act, which affects state agencies, the university system, and community college districts concerning energy improvements in state-owned buildings. The bill removes the Department of Environmental Quality's authority to issue energy conservation program bonds. Instead, projects will be funded from the general fund or the energy conservation capital projects account. The Department of Environmental Quality is now authorized to set an annual interest rate, not exceeding 3%, for these projects.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill revises state building energy conservation program, maintaining funding for energy efficiency improvements in state-owned buildings via general fund.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill revises energy conservation program for state buildings, maintaining funding for energy improvements and conservation efforts under revised funding mechanisms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

signed · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HB 217: Transfer the state building energy conservation program to the Dept. of Administration A&E division

House Bill 217 transfers the State Building Energy Conservation Program from the Department of Environmental Quality to the Architecture and Engineering Division within the Department of Administration. This means the A&E Division will now manage efforts to identify state-owned buildings for energy savings, conduct energy analyses, and implement improvements. The bill also allows the Department of Environmental Quality to retain certain federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds previously allocated to the program. This change affects state agencies and aims to consolidate the administration of state building energy efficiency.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill transfers energy conservation program to new division, maintaining focus on state building energy efficiency improvements and analyses per summary and subjects.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTransfers energy conservation program to manage building efficiency, maintaining focus on reducing energy use and emissions through state building improvements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 24, 2025

LC 655: Create a pollinator health task force

Montana's LC 655 creates a 14-member Pollinator Health Task Force to develop a statewide strategy for protecting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The task force includes representatives from agriculture (fruit, seed, berry industries), conservation groups, Montana tribes, universities, beekeepers, and pesticide distributors, with specific requirements for membership composition. It must produce a report detailing research plans, public education initiatives, habitat improvement strategies, and recommendations for legislative or budgetary changes to support pollinators. The bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund for the task force's work during the 2025-2027 biennium, requiring the final report to be submitted to the 70th Legislature. This bill directly affects Montana's agricultural economy (which relies on pollinators for crops valued at $34 billion nationally) and ecosystems dependent on pollinator health.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates task force to develop pollinator protection strategy, habitat improvement, and conservation initiatives, directly advancing environmental conservation efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 27, 2025

LC 2568: Joint resolution protecting public lands.

This joint resolution expresses Montana's legislative support for maintaining federal management of national public lands, including parks, forests, and wildlife refuges. It specifically opposes efforts to sell, transfer, or dispose of these lands to private entities or state governments. The resolution directs Montana's Governor, Attorney General, and Congressional delegation to take action against such proposals, citing the economic and recreational value of public lands to Montanans (noting $5.8 billion in tourism revenue and 82% public support for monument protections). As a non-binding statement, it does not create new laws but formally aligns the state with federal land stewardship.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill protects public lands (parks, forests, wildlife refuges) from sale/transfer, directly conserving natural resources and supporting environmental protection per summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 30, 2025

LC 1608: Generally revise conservation financing laws

Montana's LC 1608 establishes a Habitat Legacy Account funded by marijuana revenue to support wildlife conservation. It allocates 75% of annual funds to the Land and Wildlife Stewardship Account for habitat acquisition, 20% to the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Account for projects, and 5% to the Big Game Highway Crossings Account for wildlife crossing infrastructure. If the Stewardship Account exceeds $50 million in unused funds, allocations shift to 80% for improvement projects and 20% for crossings. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks administers all accounts, with funds restricted to specific conservation purposes like habitat protection, wildlife projects, and highway crossing design.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds wildlife conservation via dedicated marijuana tax revenue, creating new appropriations for environmental programs per bill's allocation structure.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds wildlife conservation via dedicated accounts for habitat acquisition, improvement, and infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection through specific allocations.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates 5% of funds to Big Game Highway Crossings Account for wildlife crossing infrastructure, directly funding transportation safety projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife Roads & Highways

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died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 3736: Create a state energy conservation standard

This bill (LC 3736) was introduced to establish a state energy conservation standard but died in committee on May 23, 2025, without progressing further. The provided context does not include details about the proposed standard's specific requirements, affected entities (such as building owners, utilities, or manufacturers), or any mechanisms for implementation. As a draft that never advanced beyond the initial assignment stage, no concrete policy changes or provisions were defined in the available information. Therefore, a substantive summary of its content or impact cannot be provided based on the given context.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly creates energy conservation standard, promoting efficiency and sustainable practices per title and summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates energy conservation standard, directly promoting resource conservation and emissions reduction per environmental protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Conservation

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1313: Revise conservation easement laws

This bill (LC 1313) aimed to revise state laws governing conservation easements - legal agreements that protect land from development. It would have directly affected landowners, farmers, conservation groups, and local governments by altering how easements are created, managed, and enforced. The proposed changes included updated requirements for easement documentation and new oversight processes for land conservation projects. However, the bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as it was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025. No policy changes were enacted.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill revises conservation easement laws to strengthen land protection and conservation efforts, directly advancing environmental protection through updated documentation and oversight for conservation projects.90% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill restricts land development via conservation easements, limiting housing projects by preventing construction on protected land.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Property Development Property Taxes

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