SB 343 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Revert revenue from coal tax to coal trust

SB 343 would change how Montana allocates remaining coal severance tax revenue after other specified uses. Currently, until 2027, interest income from the coal trust fund is sent to the general fund for specific programs like agriculture development, small business centers, and library services. This bill amends the law to redirect all remaining coal tax revenue (after other allocations) directly to the coal severance tax permanent fund starting July 1, 2027, instead of the general fund. The policy change would shift funding away from current general fund programs toward the coal trust fund, which supports coal-dependent communities and projects.
Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action May 23, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0343_1(4).pdf SB0343_2.pdf · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from SB 343.1 to SB0343.2, likely reflecting a new version or amendment. A key substantive change adds the word 'MONTANA' to the funding allocation for the cooperative development center, clarifying that the $65,000 grant is specifically for the state's center rather than a generic one. The overall scope of the bill remains focused on agricultural funding and development programs.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on agricultural funding, but the specific recipient description for one grant was clarified to specify the state location.
FISCAL

The funding allocation for the cooperative development center was updated to specify it is for the 'MONTANA' cooperative development center, adding a state identifier to the recipient name.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 3, 2025 · House Apr 9, 2025

How they voted

464
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 3, 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
38
Key actions
6
Committee
7
Amendments
1
Apr 9, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (21-0)
house
Apr 9, 2025
Amended
(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) Taxation
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Taxation
lower
Apr 3, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-4)
senate
Apr 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
(S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Taxation
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Taxation
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Taxation
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dave Fern
Dave Fern
DDemocratic
MT
2