HB 58 revises how state funds are distributed for environmental cleanup, specifically targeting abandoned mine sites and hazardous waste areas. The bill mandates a biennial transfer of $500,000 through June 2038 for long-term maintenance and water treatment at the CR Kendall mine reclamation site. It also extends the state's financial contribution for cleanup, operation, and maintenance at the Libby asbestos superfund site until June 2038. These provisions ensure continued funding for critical environmental remediation efforts managed by the Department of Environmental Quality.
HB 244 revises hunting and fishing license provisions for Montana residents serving in the armed forces. It allows eligible members of the National Guard, federal reserve, or active duty who served at least two months outside the state in a contingency operation to receive a free resident conservation license and a fishing or combination sports license for five years, with the option to reset this period after subsequent deployments. The bill also guarantees that service members who forfeited a drawn license due to deployment can receive that same license upon their return without additional cost. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will be reimbursed from the state's general fund for the cost of these free licenses.
HB 248 revises election laws concerning voter registration cancellation. The bill amends the reasons an election administrator must cancel a voter's registration. It now includes "an obituary" as a source for reporting an elector as deceased, in addition to existing methods like death certificates. Additionally, it specifies that an elector's registration will be canceled if they fail to respond to confirmation mailings, are placed on the inactive list, and subsequently do not vote in two consecutive federal general elections. These revisions directly affect the conditions under which an elector's registration is removed from active rolls.
Senate Bill 366 revises the notification process for county central committee conventions. It allows the presiding officer of a county central committee to email the call of the county convention to precinct committee representatives. This change provides an additional method for informing committee representatives about upcoming conventions, alongside the existing requirements to publish the call in a newspaper and mail a copy.
SB 78 revises laws related to the inspection and marking of hides and meat from slaughtered animals. The bill eliminates the requirement that each dressed carcass of a slaughtered animal must be stamped by an inspector. However, slaughtering establishments must still maintain the hide of each slaughtered animal for inspection and marking by a state or deputy state stock inspector. The bill also updates the requirements for inspectors when handling bills of sale that cover animals not included in the current inspection. Finally, it clarifies that individuals who kill livestock in good faith for their own use are not required to have the meat inspected or stamped.
HB 279 revises the geographic boundaries for District 1 and District 2, which are used for appointments to the Board of Public Education, Board of Regents, Coal Board, and Hard-Rock Mining Impact Board. The bill specifies the exact counties belonging to each district. These revised districts will apply to any future vacancies on these boards, but current members will not be displaced.
This bill grants the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) the authority to establish uniform administrative rules for the professional and occupational boards it oversees. These rules will specifically govern the procedures for handling contested administrative cases, which are formal disputes within the licensing process. The DLI will also be able to create rules for public notice requirements, potentially allowing the posting of a licensee's name and hearing details on a public website prior to a final decision on their license. This aims to standardize how these boards manage disagreements and provide public information about ongoing administrative actions.
HB 173 revises the definitions within the Montana Youth Court Act. It specifically expands the definition of a "victim" to include a corporation or other entity. This change allows businesses or organizations to be formally recognized as victims in cases handled by the youth court. The bill amends existing state law to incorporate this broader definition.
SB 143 revises Montana's civil liability laws by shortening the statutes of limitations for certain types of legal actions. The bill reduces the period for filing lawsuits based on a written contract, covenant, obligation, or liability from 8 years to 6 years. It also shortens the timeframe for actions seeking damages related to work on improvements to real property or land surveying, changing it from 10 years to 6 years after completion of the work. These changes directly affect individuals and entities involved in such contracts or property development, establishing new deadlines for bringing legal claims. The revised time limits will apply to actions filed on or after October 1, 2025.
HB 308 extends the period during which counties receive a portion of the metalliferous mines license tax collections. The bill achieves this by amending termination dates in previous laws related to the distribution and statutory appropriation of these tax revenues. Specifically, it changes various termination dates to June 30, 2037. This ensures that counties continue to receive these specific tax distributions for an extended duration.
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.
HB 219 revises Montana's hunting laws related to contests and prizes for harvested animals. The bill specifically creates a new exception allowing licensed individuals who lawfully harvest wolves to receive reimbursements for documented costs incurred during the hunting or trapping process. This change clarifies existing regulations that generally prohibit offering prizes for taking game, while still allowing certain awards for single game birds or fur-bearing animals, or for game animals based on size or weight, typically with a monetary limit.
