HB 703 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Exempt GHG emissions analysis for appliances, vehicles, engines

HB 703 exempts specific state and local agencies in Montana from analyzing greenhouse gas emissions during certain environmental reviews. The bill states that the state department and local building departments are no longer required to analyze greenhouse gas emissions from covered appliances when adopting or enforcing building codes. It also exempts the state department from analyzing greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles, engines, and nonroad vehicles, and emissions originating outside the state's borders. The bill cites federal preemption laws as the basis for these exemptions from environmental review.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 8 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0703_X(9).pdf HB0703_X(10).pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill removes exemptions that previously allowed the department to skip greenhouse gas emissions analysis for sources located outside state borders, and eliminates a separate exemption for sources not subject to state enforcement. This change ensures emissions assessments are conducted more comprehensively for all relevant sources.
Scope change
The bill's scope of emissions analysis is expanded to include sources beyond state borders and those not subject to state enforcement, removing previous exemptions.
EXEMPTIONS

Removed exemption for sources not subject to state enforcement under 42 U.S.C. 7543(a) for new motor vehicles or engines.

Removed exemption for sources located beyond the state's borders from greenhouse gas emissions analysis.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the exemptions section to require emissions analysis for all sources, including those outside state borders and not subject to state enforcement.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 11, 2025 · House Apr 18, 2025

How they voted

3612
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Apr 11, 2025
D Democratic18
5 Yea 12 Nay 1
66% Nay
R Republican32
31 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
42
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 8, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
May 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 18, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (61-37-2)
house
Apr 12, 2025
Introduced
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (36-12-2)
senate
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Natural Resources
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Natural Resources
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Curtis Schomer
Curtis Schomer
RRepublican
MT
48