Environment

died · Montana · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 559: Revise river usage laws related to commercial fishing, outfitting, and guiding

HB 559, which was withdrawn on February 21, 2025, proposed establishing two weekly "commercial fishing, guiding, and outfitting-free days" on specific Montana rivers (including the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Madison, and Yellowstone) between May 30 and Labor Day. It would have required the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to designate stretches of these rivers where commercial operations are prohibited on two days weekly (one must be Saturday), aiming to reduce overcrowding. The bill directly affected commercial fishing outfitters, guides, and recreational users by altering access during peak summer months. Rulemaking was required by May 15, 2026, but the bill was withdrawn before committee action.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill limits commercial river use to reduce overcrowding, conserving natural resources and protecting river ecosystems through designated free days for fishing/guiding operations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 520: Eliminate the donation of paddlefish eggs for commercial caviar sale

This bill prohibits the donation of paddlefish eggs for use in commercial caviar production. It directly affects businesses that rely on paddlefish eggs to make and sell caviar. The key provision eliminates a specific practice - donating eggs - to prevent their commercial use. The bill aimed to protect paddlefish by ending this pathway for caviar sales, though it died in the legislative process before becoming law.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill prohibits donation of paddlefish eggs for caviar to protect paddlefish population, conserving natural resources and wildlife as a direct environmental conservation measure.90% confidence

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died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 3762: Generally revise electric transportation laws

Bill LC 3762, titled "Generally revise electric transportation laws," aimed to update state regulations governing electric vehicle infrastructure and incentives. The bill was drafted in December 2024 but was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process on May 23, 2025. As a result, no specific policy changes were enacted, and the proposed revisions to electric transportation rules were never implemented. The available context does not include the bill's full text or detailed provisions.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill aimed to update electric vehicle infrastructure regulations, directly promoting renewable transportation infrastructure and clean energy adoption per its title and summary.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill aimed to update electric vehicle infrastructure and incentives, promoting clean transportation to reduce emissions, directly advancing environmental goals.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill aimed to update EV infrastructure regulations and incentives, promoting sustainable transportation policies per its title and summary.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Driver Licensing Electric Vehicles Vehicle Registration

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3191: Expanding opportunities for multifamily financing under commercial property assessed capital enhancements

LC 3191 aimed to expand financing options for multifamily property owners (like apartment buildings) to fund energy efficiency upgrades through property tax-based programs. The bill would have broadened eligibility for commercial property assessed capital enhancements (PACE), allowing more buildings to access low-cost loans repaid via property taxes. However, the bill died in the drafting process on May 27, 2025, and never advanced to a committee vote or floor debate. It remains a proposed measure with no legislative action taken.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly funds energy efficiency upgrades for multifamily properties through PACE financing, directly advancing energy efficiency standards per its summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds energy efficiency upgrades for multifamily properties, directly reducing energy consumption and emissions, aligning with environmental protection goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency

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signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 808: Creating the Montana brownfields program

House Bill 808 establishes the Montana Brownfields Revitalization Act, creating a program to encourage the cleanup and redevelopment of "brownfield sites" across the state. These are properties where hazardous substances or petroleum contamination may hinder their reuse or expansion. The bill outlines eligibility criteria for brownfield funding, allowing entities like local governments and non-profits to use federal funds for environmental assessment and remediation when no viable responsible party for the contamination exists. This aims to prepare properties for redevelopment, reduce environmental threats, and return them to productive use. The act also eliminates and replaces previous Montana Petroleum Brownfields Revitalization Act provisions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates program for cleanup/remediation of contaminated brownfield sites, directly advancing environmental protection through remediation funding and site redevelopment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 160: Revise alternative energy project laws to require a bond prior to construction

SB 160 requires owners of qualifying wind and solar energy facilities in Montana (solar: 2+ megawatts, wind: 25+ megawatts) to provide a decommissioning bond before construction begins. The bond amount, determined by the Department of Environmental Quality based on the owner's decommissioning plan, ensures funds are available to dismantle facilities and restore land within 24 months after a facility's end of life or abandonment. This applies to new projects and modifies existing requirements for facility owners to submit plans and bonds prior to commercial operation.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires decommissioning bonds for wind/solar projects, ensuring environmental responsibility and long-term sustainability of renewable energy infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires decommissioning bonds for wind/solar projects to ensure land restoration after facility end-of-life, directly protecting environmental resources through financial accountability.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar

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signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 8: Renewable resource bonds and loans

HB 8 approves specific renewable resource projects and reauthorizes others, enabling the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to provide loans for them. These loans are available to various political subdivisions and local governments for purposes such as dam rehabilitation and irrigation system improvements. To fund these projects, the bill authorizes the issuance of up to $121,198,444 in coal severance tax bonds. Loan disbursements are subject to conditions including DNRC approval of the project's scope and budget, and the execution of a loan agreement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $121M in coal severance tax bonds for renewable infrastructure projects, using existing tax funds to finance approved initiatives under Appropriations and Coal Tax Fund subjects.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAuthorizes $121M in bonds for renewable projects via DNRC loans, directly funding clean energy infrastructure like dam rehab and irrigation improvements.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds renewable projects via loans/bonds, promotes clean energy and water conservation through dam irrigation improvements and DNRC financing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Coal Hydroelectric Conservation

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 670: Require a public utility to transfer unused customer-generated kilowatt-hour credits to low-income energy assistance programs

HB 670 proposes that public utilities transfer unused kilowatt-hour credits, generated by customers who produce their own electricity, to low-income energy assistance programs. Currently, any remaining unused credits accumulated by customer-generators over a 12-month period are granted back to the public utility without compensation. This bill amends existing law to specifically direct that these uncompensated credits must be credited to a fund established for universal low-income energy assistance, administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The public utility would receive credit for these kilowatt-hours that fund the assistance programs.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRedirects unused customer-generated renewable energy credits to low-income energy assistance, advancing equitable access and supporting energy affordability programs.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRedirects unused renewable energy credits to low-income programs, increasing access to clean energy and aligning with environmental goals of promoting renewables and equitable energy access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar

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signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 46: Increase registration fee for underground petroleum tanks

SB 46 revises the annual registration fees for owners and operators of underground petroleum or hazardous substance storage tanks. The bill increases the maximum annual fee for tanks over 1,100 gallons from $108 to $300. For tanks 1,100 gallons or less, the maximum annual fee is raised from $36 to $100. These fees help cover state and local costs associated with implementing the underground storage tank program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases registration fees to fund underground storage tank program costs, generating additional revenue for state fiscal management as stated in summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases fees to fund underground tank program, enhancing environmental protection by covering regulatory costs for leak prevention and cleanup.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

signed · Montana · House Apr 18, 2025

HB 189: Revise the petroleum storage tank cleanup eligibility requirements

HB 189 revises the eligibility requirements for reimbursement from the petroleum tank release cleanup fund. It primarily changes the date for which cleanup expenses can be reimbursed, extending it from April 13, 1989, to January 1, 1984, for certain owners and operators of petroleum storage tanks. This adjustment allows for the reimbursement of older cleanup costs for releases from eligible tanks. The bill also extends rulemaking authority related to these provisions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands reimbursement eligibility for historical petroleum tank cleanup costs, facilitating pollution remediation and aligning with environmental protection goals.90% confidence