This bill removes the expiration date for a tax credit that coal companies in Montana can claim for coal washing operations. By repealing previous sections of state law, the measure ensures the credit remains available indefinitely rather than ending on a set date. The legislation also requires the secretary of state to send copies of the act to federally recognized tribal governments in Montana. It takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the legislature.
This bill declares that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality has full authority over air quality, water quality, and emissions standards for existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units within the state. It designates the department as the sole oversight and permitting authority for coal, natural gas, and oil power plants currently operating in Montana, while asserting that federal agencies lack authority to regulate these facilities without significant economic investment from owners and ratepayers. The legislation includes a contingency clause that would void the bill if the federal Environmental Protection Agency repeals specific rules from May 2024, and it takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
This bill creates a new 10% severance tax on electricity produced in Montana using non-coal sources such as wind, solar, or hydroelectric power, while exempting coal-generated electricity from the tax. The tax is calculated based on the gross sale price of the electricity at the point of production, and producers must file quarterly returns with the Department of Revenue to report and pay the tax. Revenue collected from this tax will be placed in a special state account and used to fund local government infrastructure projects that were traditionally supported by coal severance tax revenue. Additionally, the bill reduces the existing coal severance tax rate to match the new electrical energy production tax rate, creating a revenue-neutral transition between energy sources.
This bill requires operators of coal-fired power plants in Montana to ensure permanent access to water for nearby cities and towns, even if the plant closes or retires. It mandates that operators maintain water conveyance systems until environmental contamination from the plant or its waste storage areas meets state cleanup standards. The legislation also updates legal definitions to clarify what constitutes "affected property" and "remediation" while establishing clearer financial assurance requirements for cleanup obligations. These changes directly impact coal plant operators and local municipalities by creating enforceable water supply protections and refining how cleanup responsibilities are defined and managed.
This bill requires Montana to transfer 10% of excess state general fund revenue to the Montana Coal Severance Tax Permanent Fund after other specified budget transfers are completed. It modifies existing budget rules by directing this specific portion of unspent funds - calculated as 10% of amounts exceeding established reserve levels - to the coal tax fund, rather than other designated accounts. The transfer applies to funds remaining after the state meets its operating reserve level and other required transfers to the budget stabilization fund and capital projects account. This policy change affects how Montana manages its state budget surplus, specifically directing a portion of excess revenue toward the coal severance fund established under state law.
HB 941 proposed to transfer all interest earnings generated from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The bill directed the state treasurer to move these earnings into the coal severance tax permanent fund. It also included a small appropriation of $100 to the Department of Revenue for implementing the act. The bill specified alternative destinations for the funds and adjustments to other legislation, depending on the passage of related bills.
HB 858 aimed to revise the coal severance tax coal washing credit in Montana. The bill proposed to extend the termination date for specific definitions related to "coal washing" and "contract sales price," which are used to calculate this tax credit. If passed, these definitions, relevant to coal mining operations, would have remained in effect until July 1, 2027, rather than expiring earlier. The bill also included a provision for notifying tribal governments about the act.
SB 171 requires that 10% of excess state general fund revenue, after meeting budget stability and capital projects fund thresholds, be transferred to the Montana coal severance tax permanent fund (coal trust fund). This bill amends Montana's budget law to direct a portion of surplus funds - specifically, funds exceeding established reserve levels - to the coal trust fund instead of remaining in the general fund. The transfer applies when the budget stabilization reserve fund and capital projects fund exceed 16% and 12% of general revenue appropriations, respectively. The coal trust fund, which supports coal-related programs, would receive this additional funding without altering the state's primary budget processes.
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.
This bill extends the expiration date of Montana's coal severance tax credit for coal washing from July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2027. The credit allows coal mining companies to reduce their severance tax liability when washing coal to remove impurities before sale. The bill amends two existing laws (2009 and 2015) to update the termination date and requires the secretary of state to notify Montana's tribal governments. The change takes immediate effect upon enactment, providing continued tax relief for coal producers using washing processes.
