Energy (Electric Vehicles)

This bill updates Montana laws to regulate public charging stations for electric vehicles by establishing clear definitions, tax requirements, and metering standards. It directly affects charging station operators, owners, and public utilities by requiring new stations to have separate electric meters starting in 2023 and mandating that all existing public charging stations be metered by 2025. The legislation also introduces a 3-cent per kilowatt-hour tax on electricity used at public charging stations and requires operators to display charging rates at their sites. Additionally, the bill reduces electric vehicle registration fees by 30% beginning in 2028 and requires charging station owners to register their facilities with the Department of Transportation.

This bill amends Montana's Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to expand financing opportunities for multifamily housing facilities with at least five residential units. It updates legal definitions to explicitly include multifamily properties and clarifies what qualifies as an energy conservation measure, such as insulation, window upgrades, HVAC modifications, and electric vehicle charging stations. The changes allow local governments to establish districts within their jurisdictions to administer these financing programs, enabling property owners to pay for energy efficiency improvements through property assessments rather than traditional loans. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the legislature.

Montana's LC 1611, the "Montana Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Act," requires local governments (municipalities and counties with 20,000+ residents) to adopt standardized permitting rules for electric vehicle charging stations by 2027. It mandates that local governments either adopt a state-developed model code, establish objective standards (avoiding subjective decisions), or maintain existing processes, while reporting on permit approvals and processing times. The bill also creates eligibility for state loans to local governments that comply with the new rules. This directly affects local government permitting agencies and businesses installing EV charging infrastructure by streamlining approvals and reducing delays.

Bill LC 3762, titled "Generally revise electric transportation laws," aimed to update state regulations governing electric vehicle infrastructure and incentives. The bill was drafted in December 2024 but was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process on May 23, 2025. As a result, no specific policy changes were enacted, and the proposed revisions to electric transportation rules were never implemented. The available context does not include the bill's full text or detailed provisions.

SB 228 revises laws related to public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, affecting EV owners and charging station operators. The bill imposes a 3-cent per kilowatt-hour tax on electricity delivered to public charging stations, with specific effective dates for new and existing stations. It mandates that all public charging stations install a separate electric meter, with the owner responsible for installation costs. Additionally, the bill eliminates a future 30% reduction in state registration fees for electric vehicles. Public charging station operators are also required to register with the state and disclose their charging rates.