Energy

Senate Bill 333 repeals the termination date for the existing coal severance tax coal washing credit. This credit, previously set to expire on July 1, 2027, will now continue indefinitely. The bill directly affects coal mining companies and processors that utilize coal washing and are subject to the coal severance tax, allowing them to continue claiming this tax credit.

House Bill 696 establishes a framework for the legislative approval of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities within Montana. It authorizes such facilities if they reprocess fuel from in-state or out-of-state sources, receive a state recommendation from the Department of Environmental Quality, and obtain a federal license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The bill also amends existing law, requiring companies applying to federal energy or nuclear regulatory commissions to notify the state's Department of Environmental Quality and pay a fee to support the department's review and participation in federal proceedings.