Environment (Forestry)

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 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 Dec 10, 2024

LC 534: Revise liability, training for prescribed fires

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.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by requiring certified training for prescribed fire managers, reducing wildfire risk and promoting safer forest management practices.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 6, 2025

LC 950: Revise laws related to the fire suppression account

This bill updates Montana's fire suppression account by removing specific date references from statutory appropriations and establishes new reporting requirements for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The legislation allows the state treasurer to automatically transfer funds to the account when the general fund balance exceeds a certain threshold, while also permitting the use of excess account balances for specific fire-related purposes such as fuel reduction, forest restoration, and equipment grants. Additionally, the department must submit annual reports detailing how funds are spent across different categories, and the changes take effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens fire suppression funding by establishing automatic transfers from general fund and allowing use of excess balances for fire-related purposes, promoting fiscal responsibility.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens fire suppression funding and adds reporting requirements for natural resources, supporting environmental protection through better forest management and fire prevention.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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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 Apr 18, 2025

HB 127: Revise laws related to the fire suppression account

HB 127 revises laws related to Montana's fire suppression account, which funds various activities like fire suppression costs, fuel reduction, and forest restoration. The bill removes a specific date reference, making an annual statutory appropriation for fire preparedness an ongoing allocation from the account. It also establishes new reporting requirements, mandating that the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) submit annual expenditure reports to a legislative committee. These changes affect the DNRC's financial management and legislative oversight of funds used for fire-related activities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds forest restoration and fire suppression activities, supporting conservation efforts through ongoing appropriations and reporting requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

vetoed · Montana · Senate Jun 12, 2025

SB 472: Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process

SB 472 removes the previous $250,000 cap on civil penalties for repeated violations of Montana's stream protection rules (under the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act). It specifically exempts forest activities that follow state forestry rules from these penalties. The bill affects developers, loggers, or others working in stream zones who violate permit requirements, allowing penalties to grow without limit for ongoing violations. It takes immediate effect upon approval.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves $250k penalty cap for repeated stream protection violations, strengthening enforcement. Exemption for compliant forest activities doesn't weaken overall environmental protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 3748: Generally revise state energy policy relating to wildfire mitigation

LC 3748, titled "Generally revise state energy policy relating to wildfire mitigation," was a draft bill introduced to update state energy regulations with a focus on reducing wildfire risks. It intended to affect utility companies and state energy agencies by requiring new wildfire mitigation standards for infrastructure. However, the bill died in the drafting process on May 23, 2025, and never advanced to a vote or became law. No concrete policy changes were enacted through this bill.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill requires wildfire mitigation standards for infrastructure to reduce environmental risks from wildfires, aligning with protective environmental policy goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

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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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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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