Environment (Conservation)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 22, 2025

LC 2184: Revise term length of conservation easements

This bill modifies Montana's conservation easement laws by limiting their maximum duration to 40 years and preventing restrictions that would stop current agricultural activities on the land. It also prohibits conditions that would require land under easement to be transferred to federal control. The legislation affects public bodies and private organizations that hold conservation easements, ensuring agricultural producers can continue farming on their land and that easements cannot force land into federal administration. These changes update existing statutes to provide clearer time limits and protect ongoing agricultural use while maintaining conservation goals.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill limits conservation easement duration to 40 years and prevents restrictions on agricultural activities, weakening long-term environmental protection mechanisms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 5, 2025

LC 1754: Exempt agricultural property from open space levies

This bill exempts agricultural property from open space property tax levies in Montana, directly affecting landowners who classify their property for agricultural use. The key provision amends state law to remove agricultural land from the list of properties subject to these levies, which fund various county services like parks, roads, and fire control. If a county had already collected payments from exempt agricultural property, the bill allows counties to reduce those payments to refund the overcharged amount. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and applies retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill exempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing local government revenue for parks, roads, and fire control services.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts agricultural land from open space levies that fund parks, conservation, and environmental services, reducing local funding for environmental protection.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 2187: Resolution to release federal wilderness study areas

This bill seeks to remove approximately 663,000 acres of land in Montana from consideration for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The legislation directly affects federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service that were previously designated as wilderness study areas under state and federal laws. By releasing these areas from wilderness designation consideration, the bill aims to resolve legal uncertainty and reduce federal litigation costs associated with managing these lands. The measure would allow federal agencies to manage these areas without the restrictions that would apply if they were officially designated as wilderness.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes 663,000 acres from wilderness consideration, weakening environmental protections and reducing conservation of natural resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2339: Exempt GHG emissions analysis for appliances, vehicles, engines

This bill exempts state and local building departments from conducting greenhouse gas emissions analyses for certain appliances, vehicles, and engines under Montana's environmental review process. The exemption applies to products regulated by federal laws that preempt state authority, such as those governed by the Clean Air Act and Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as well as emissions originating outside Montana's borders. By removing these specific sources from environmental review requirements, the bill clarifies that state agencies do not need to assess greenhouse gas impacts for items where federal law already establishes national standards. The legislation also provides instructions for codifying these exemptions into existing state environmental statutes.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts GHG emissions analysis for appliances, vehicles, and engines, weakening environmental review requirements and reducing oversight of emissions sources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Climate Change Conservation

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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

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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

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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

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signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 466: Provide categorical exclusions from MEPA

House Bill 466 amends the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) by formally defining and allowing state agencies to identify "categorical exclusions." These exclusions are actions determined to have no significant impact on the human environment and are therefore exempt from requiring an environmental analysis or impact statement. The bill also provides specific exemptions from MEPA review for activities such as building construction by the Department of Administration and historic preservation grants by the Department of Commerce. State agencies are required to track and report their use of these categorical exclusions.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts state agency actions from MEPA environmental review, reducing regulatory oversight and weakening environmental protection requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 346: Exempt Commerce grants and loans from MEPA

HB 346 exempts various grant and loan programs from environmental review requirements under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). This bill directly affects the Department of Commerce, Board of Housing, and other commissions by removing the need for environmental assessments when authorizing or administering these specific programs. The exemptions apply to programs supporting microbusiness development, historic preservation, workforce training, housing finance, and other economic development initiatives. This aims to streamline the process for providing financial assistance through these identified programs.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts Commerce programs from MEPA environmental reviews, weakening oversight and protections by removing required assessments for projects.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts housing finance programs from MEPA, facilitating implementation and supporting housing development as explicitly listed in bill summary.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill exempts workforce training programs from MEPA reviews, facilitating faster implementation of employment-focused initiatives under Department of Commerce programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Historic Preservation Housing Finance Property Development Workforce Development

signed · Montana · House May 12, 2025

HB 411: Exempt agricultural property from open space levies

House Bill 411 (HB 411) exempts agricultural property from local property tax levies that are used to fund open space initiatives. This means that owners of land classified as agricultural will no longer be required to pay the portion of their property taxes designated for open space purposes. The bill also allows counties to reduce any open space payments made to agricultural properties that are now exempt from these levies. This change applies retroactively to property tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing tax revenue for these programs and defunding open space initiatives.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing funding for conservation initiatives that protect natural areas and limit environmental protection efforts.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Sales Tax Conservation Tags Agriculture