Environment (Air Quality)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 1392: Require rules to limit GHG emissions

This bill directs the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to create rules that limit greenhouse gas emissions to protect public health, safety, welfare, and the environment. It expands the department's existing authority to regulate air pollutants by explicitly requiring it to develop emission limits while exempting certain agricultural and forestry activities from new permitting requirements. The legislation also allows the department to require access to emissions-related records and establish fees for permits and applications. These changes apply to the state environmental agency and any entities subject to its air quality regulations, with specific carve-outs for short-term agricultural and forestry operations.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill restricts energy production by requiring GHG emission limits, which would constrain fossil fuel and other energy sources.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly requires limiting greenhouse gas emissions to protect environment and public health, strengthening environmental regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Climate Change Forestry

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 1657: Declare authority over existing fossil-fuel fired electric generating units

This bill declares that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality has full authority over air quality, water quality, and emissions standards for existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units within the state. It designates the department as the sole oversight and permitting authority for coal, natural gas, and oil power plants currently operating in Montana, while asserting that federal agencies lack authority to regulate these facilities without significant economic investment from owners and ratepayers. The legislation includes a contingency clause that would void the bill if the federal Environmental Protection Agency repeals specific rules from May 2024, and it takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill strengthens state authority over fossil fuel plant regulations, enabling better environmental oversight and potential emissions standards that align with clean energy goals.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental oversight by granting state authority over emissions and air/water quality standards for fossil fuel plants, enhancing environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Air Quality Water Quality

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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 Mar 27, 2025

LC 2199: Joint resolution urging changes to federal wildfire policy

This Montana joint resolution (LC 2199) urges the U.S. President, Agriculture Secretary, Forest Service Chief, and Congress to modify federal wildfire and land management policies. It requests five key changes: requiring aggressive initial fire attacks to protect communities and air quality; keeping forest roads open for access and suppression; adding wildfire smoke to EPA air quality standards; ending "let it burn" policies that avoid environmental reviews; and enabling state/local involvement in federal land management. The resolution directly affects Montana communities facing wildfire risks, federal land management practices, and air quality standards. As a non-binding resolution, it seeks to address concerns about current federal approaches that contribute to larger fires, hazardous smoke, and high suppression costs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly adds wildfire smoke to EPA air quality standards and ends 'let it burn' policies avoiding environmental reviews, directly strengthening pollution control and regulatory protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Forestry Public Lands

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died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 3975: Provide exemption from air quality requirements on controlled burns

LC 3975 was a legislative draft titled "Provide exemption from air quality requirements on controlled burns." Based solely on its title, the bill aimed to create an exception for controlled burns from existing air quality regulations, which would directly affect individuals and entities conducting such burns. However, the draft bill died in process and its specific provisions are not detailed in the provided information.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempting controlled burns from air quality requirements would weaken environmental regulations by allowing unregulated emissions during burns, directly contradicting pollution control objectives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 35: Joint resolution urging changes to federal wildfire policy

HJ 35 is a joint resolution from the Montana Legislature urging federal officials to modify current federal land management and wildfire policies. It calls for an aggressive initial attack on wildfires across all federal lands and for federal forest roads to remain open for access and fire suppression. The resolution also recommends that EPA air quality standards include wildfire smoke and that federal "let it burn" policies be reversed, ensuring NEPA processes are followed. Finally, it advocates for increased involvement of state and local governments and stakeholder groups in federal fire management decisions to protect Montana's communities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdvocates for EPA air quality standards including wildfire smoke and reversing 'let it burn' policies to protect natural resources and reduce pollution from wildfires.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill advocates including wildfire smoke in EPA air quality standards, a public health program, strengthening air quality measures affecting health.80% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly urges federal forest roads to remain open for fire suppression access, directly supporting transportation infrastructure maintenance and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality Forestry Public Lands

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signed · Montana · House Feb 28, 2025

HB 64: Repeal small business compliance assistance council

HB 64 repeals Montana's Small Business Compliance Assistance Advisory Council and removes its references from air quality regulations. The bill amends the duties of a small business stationary source representative, eliminating requirements for them to consult with the now-repealed council. This directly affects Montana small businesses subject to air quality regulations, as the council previously provided input on compliance challenges. The change streamlines the representative's role by removing council-related obligations while keeping their core responsibilities for assisting small businesses with regulatory compliance.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals council providing input on air quality compliance, removing support for small business adherence to environmental regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 291: Revise laws related to air quality standards

HB 291 limits the ability of Montana's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and local air pollution control programs to set air quality standards stricter than federal requirements. The bill prohibits the DEQ from establishing emission levels or rules more stringent than federal Clean Air Act standards, with exceptions for existing requirements and areas that do not meet national ambient air quality standards. It also revises the process for the DEQ to adopt any rules more stringent than federal guidelines, now only allowing it through emergency rulemaking. Local air pollution control programs are similarly restricted from adopting more stringent rules without specific department approval.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prohibits Montana DEQ from setting air quality standards stricter than federal Clean Air Act, weakening state environmental protections by restricting regulatory authority.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality