SB 188 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Revising solar energy policy laws

SB 188 establishes Montana's "Solar Shares Act," creating a new framework for shared solar energy programs. It defines "shared solar facilities" (50kW-5MW systems serving multiple customers in the same utility area) and requires utilities to interconnect them, replacing net metering with "on-bill credits" for subscribing customers. Key provisions include: utilities must apply credits to subscribers' bills based on their share of generation, facilities must be within the utility's service territory, and credits can transfer between accounts or support low-income programs. The bill directly affects public utilities, shared solar facility owners, and residential/commercial customers who subscribe to shared solar.
Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Vetoed
Jul 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Vetoed Jul 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0188_2(12).pdf SB0188_X.pdf · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reformatted and slightly reorganized with minor text adjustments. The core policy content remains substantially the same, with changes primarily involving formatting, line breaks, and some renumbering of sections. The substantive policy provisions regarding shared solar energy requirements, definitions, and utility obligations were preserved.
Scope change
No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability. The legislative intent and policy provisions remain unchanged.
TECHNICAL

Document formatting and layout were adjusted with changes to line breaks, spacing, and section numbering presentation.

DEFINITION

Minor rewording in the short title section, changing 'AN ACT ESTABLISHING SHARED SOLAR AND UTILITY REQUIREMENTS' to 'AN ACT ESTABLISHING SHARED SOLAR AND UTILITY REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION INTERCONNECTION FOR SHARED SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES' with additional clarifying language.

The definition of 'Shared solar energy facility' was reorganized with clearer lettered subsections (a) through (d) for better readability.

REQUIREMENT

Section 3 requirements were renumbered and reorganized with clearer subsection structure, though the substantive obligations remain the same.

Section 4 net energy calculation requirements were reorganized with clearer lettered and numbered subsections for improved readability.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 12, 2025 · House Apr 9, 2025

How they voted

464
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 12, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
28 Yea 4 Nay
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Jul 14, 2025
Vetoed
(S) Veto Override
upper
Jun 19, 2025
Vetoed
(S) Veto Override Vote in Progress
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Vetoed
(S) Vetoed by Governor
upper
Jun 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 12, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-4)
senate
Apr 9, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (54-43-3)
house
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
(H) Returned to Senate with Amendments
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Mar 1, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Energy, Technology and Federal Relations
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Chris Pope
Chris Pope
DDemocratic
MT
33