Environment

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 258: Requiring the extension of wolf hunting season

House Bill 258 (HB 258) aimed to revise laws concerning wolf hunting in Montana. The bill would have required the Fish and Wildlife Commission to authorize an annual wolf hunting season. Its main provision was to extend this wolf hunting season to conclude concurrently with the spring bear hunting season, allowing for specific regional adjustments by the commission. This legislation would have directly impacted wolf hunters and the state's wildlife management policies for wolves.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExtends wolf hunting season, potentially reducing wolf populations and weakening conservation efforts for a protected species under environmental protection policies.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HJ 12: Resolution regarding electric vehicles

HJ 12 is a Montana joint resolution requesting the U.S. Congress remove federal requirements for electric vehicle (EV) purchases. It cites Montana-specific challenges like limited rural charging infrastructure, reduced EV range in cold weather, and lack of all-terrain EV options, arguing these make EVs impractical for Montanans' needs. The resolution does not create new law but asks Congress to eliminate federal EV mandates, allowing Montanans to choose vehicle types freely. It was referred to a committee but died in 2025 without further action.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill requests removal of federal EV mandates, opposing federal energy policy promoting EV adoption and clean transportation infrastructure.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill seeks to eliminate federal EV mandates, weakening promotion of cleaner transportation - a key environmental protection measure. Removing such requirements opposes climate action goals.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRequests removal of federal EV mandates, opposing federal regulation of vehicle choices in transportation policy, directly limiting transportation program requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 660: Require rules to limit GHG emissions

HB 660, titled "Require rules to limit GHG emissions," would have mandated the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to develop specific rules for limiting greenhouse gas emissions. This bill sought to amend existing state law (Section 75-2-112, MCA) by requiring the DEQ to create regulations to protect public health, safety, welfare, and the environment from these emissions. The legislation directly affects the DEQ by expanding its regulatory responsibilities to include greenhouse gases.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates DEQ to create rules limiting GHG emissions, directly advancing environmental protection and reducing fossil fuel dependence in energy policy.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates DEQ to develop rules limiting GHG emissions, directly strengthening environmental regulations to protect public health and environment per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 222: Creating open wolf hunting season until the population is 600 or fewer

HB 222 proposed creating a year-round open wolf hunting season in Montana. This season would have an unlimited quota, meaning there would be no limit on the number of wolves that could be hunted. The hunting season would continue until the statewide wolf population reached 600 or fewer, at which point it could be closed. The bill aimed to amend existing state law to mandate that the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission authorize this specific wolf hunting season.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill mandates unrestricted wolf hunting to reduce population below conservation levels, directly opposing wildlife protection efforts and conservation requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 630: Require legislative approval of greenhouse gas rules

HB 630 requires that certain rules established by state departments, commissions, boards, or local authorities are not effective unless approved by the legislature. Specifically, any rules related to the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions or the calculation and application of the social cost of carbon must receive legislative approval at the next legislative session. This mechanism affects agencies that issue such environmental regulations, including those pertaining to the operation of motor vehicles. The bill ensures that the legislature has final say over these specific types of administrative rules.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRequires legislative approval for greenhouse gas regulations, delaying or blocking environmental rules that advance clean energy standards and emissions reduction efforts.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRequires legislative approval for greenhouse gas rules, adding barriers to environmental regulation implementation and weakening agency authority on emissions standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 256: Creation of Montana water trust and special revenue accounts

HB 256 proposed creating the Montana Water Development State Special Revenue Account to fund water-related projects and infrastructure. This new account would be established with gifts, legislative transfers, and $100 million transferred from the state's general fund over two years. The earnings from this account would be distributed, with 90% allocated to the water storage state special revenue account for state-owned water storage projects. The remaining 10% would go to the natural resources projects state special revenue account to support water storage pilot projects and dam inspections, ultimately affecting water infrastructure and safety across Montana.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates $100M from general fund to water storage projects and natural resources, directly funding environmental conservation infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 782: Revise local planning board laws

HB 782 revises the membership requirements for county planning boards. This bill changes a provision that currently mandates at least one member of a county planning board must also be a member of a conservation district or a state cooperative grazing district. If enacted, county planning boards would instead have the option to include such a member, rather than being required to. This directly affects how county planning boards are constituted and who serves on them.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves mandatory conservation district representation on planning boards, weakening environmental input in local land-use decisions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HJ 39: Joint resolution protecting public lands.

House Joint Resolution 39 is a legislative statement from the Montana Legislature concerning public lands. The resolution supports keeping national public lands under the stewardship of the United States government and federal land management agencies. It expresses opposition to any efforts to sell, transfer, or dispose of national or state public lands. The resolution also encourages Montana's Governor, Attorney General, and Congressional Delegation to oppose future attempts to sell, transfer, or dispose of national public lands.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentOpposes land disposal, supporting federal stewardship of public lands for conservation and wildlife protection, directly advancing environmental resource management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 326: Establish a tax on electrical energy not produced by coal to match coal severance tax rate

HB 326, titled the "State Energy Resource Severance Act," would establish a new 10% tax on the sale price of electrical energy produced in the state. This tax would apply to electricity generated from sources such as water, wind, and solar, but specifically exempts coal-fired electrical generation. The bill also reduces the existing coal severance tax rate to match this new electrical energy production tax rate. Revenue from this new tax would be allocated to special accounts, primarily for local government infrastructure projects traditionally funded by coal.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new 10% tax on non-coal energy (wind/solar), reallocates revenue to local accounts for public services, strengthening tax base and fiscal management per bill's explicit tax structure.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill taxes renewable energy (wind/solar/hydro) at 10% while exempting coal and reducing coal's severance tax, directly favoring fossil fuels over renewables.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentTaxes renewable energy sources while exempting coal, disincentivizing clean energy adoption and favoring fossil fuels over environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Environment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 139: Revise laws related to mule deer buck hunting in November

HB 139 aimed to revise laws related to mule deer buck hunting in Montana, directly affecting hunters and the state's Fish, Wildlife & Parks commission. The bill would have restricted the commission's ability to close mule deer buck hunting during the general rifle season in November. Specifically, it would have prohibited closures in more than 20% of hunting districts per season, for more than two years within a six-year period in any district, or prior to November 6 in any district. These new restrictions would not have applied to any district closures already in place before December 1, 2024.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill restricts wildlife commission's ability to close hunting areas, limiting conservation measures for mule deer populations and weakening protective regulations.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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