Environment

signed · Montana · House Sep 29, 2025

HB 259: Revise fish and wildlife commission techniques for gray wolf management

HB 259 revises Montana's gray wolf management rules to give the Fish and Wildlife Commission more flexibility in controlling wolf populations. It allows landowners to kill wolves threatening livestock or safety without a hunting license (subject to reporting and annual quotas), expands hunting/trapping on private land at night using thermal/infrared scopes, and permits unlimited wolf harvest in high-population areas. The bill directly affects landowners, hunters, and the Fish and Wildlife Commission, which must implement these changes. Key provisions include new landowner take rules, modified hunting seasons based on regional wolf numbers, and immediate implementation upon enactment.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAllows unrestricted wolf killing and weakens conservation protections, prioritizing livestock over ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

vetoed · Montana · Senate Jul 11, 2025

SB 537: Generally revise marijuana tax laws

SB 537 revises Montana's marijuana tax revenue distribution, directing funds from the marijuana state special revenue account to new and existing state accounts. It requires transferring excess funds annually to specific accounts, including 12% to the HEART account for addiction treatment and mental health programs, 20% to wildlife habitat projects, and 14% to behavioral health initiatives. The bill also allocates funds for law enforcement canine training, sexual assault evidence kits, and homeless shelter support, while modifying existing transfer rules for agencies like the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. These changes apply to all state agencies receiving marijuana tax revenue under Montana law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects marijuana tax revenue to specific public service accounts (12% to addiction treatment, 20% to wildlife, 14% to behavioral health), increasing funding for state programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates 12% to HEART account for addiction treatment and 14% to behavioral health initiatives, directly supporting rehabilitation programs aligned with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 20% of marijuana tax revenue to wildlife habitat projects, directly funding environmental conservation as specified in bill summary.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates 12% to HEART for addiction/mental health and 14% to behavioral health, directly funding healthcare programs under healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

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

Track

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 685: Feasibility allowance for nondegradation policy

HB 685 establishes a "feasibility allowance" as part of the state's water quality nondegradation policy. This allows individuals or entities seeking to degrade high-quality state waters to request this allowance when working to meet water quality standards. The bill revises certain definitions, including expanding who is considered an "interested person" to include those requesting such an allowance. It also amends administrative rules and grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Environmental Quality to implement these new provisions, directly affecting industries and projects that impact state waters.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAllows degradation of high-quality waters via 'feasibility allowance,' weakening nondegradation policy protections for water quality.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 923: Revise categorical exclusions from nondegradation authorization

HB 923 directs the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to amend its administrative rules by January 1, 2026. This amendment will create a new categorical exclusion from nondegradation authorization requirements. This exclusion applies to areas where a county commission demonstrates it has prohibited drinking water wells and ensures absorption trenches are at least 1,000 feet from downstream high-quality surface waters. The bill also appropriates $10,000 to the DEQ to implement these rule changes and provide guidance.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentCreates categorical exclusion from nondegradation rules, reducing regulatory requirements for water protection near development sites.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 684: Eliminate deadline for water quality data review

HB 684 eliminates a specific deadline that previously required the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to review data used for water quality assessments. This bill amends Section 75-5-702, MCA, removing the requirement for the DEQ to complete these data reviews within a set timeframe. This change primarily affects the DEQ's operational procedures for monitoring state waters and assessing their quality, as well as individuals and entities who submit water quality data for review.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentEliminates mandatory deadline for DEQ water quality data reviews, weakening oversight and environmental accountability procedures.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 703: Exempt GHG emissions analysis for appliances, vehicles, engines

HB 703 exempts specific state and local agencies in Montana from analyzing greenhouse gas emissions during certain environmental reviews. The bill states that the state department and local building departments are no longer required to analyze greenhouse gas emissions from covered appliances when adopting or enforcing building codes. It also exempts the state department from analyzing greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles, engines, and nonroad vehicles, and emissions originating outside the state's borders. The bill cites federal preemption laws as the basis for these exemptions from environmental review.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill removes GHG emissions analysis for appliances/vehicles, weakening environmental standards that would promote cleaner energy products and reduce emissions.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves mandatory GHG emissions analysis for appliances/vehicles, weakening environmental review requirements per bill text95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 676: Generally revise state land and water laws

HB 676 proposes revisions to state laws governing land and water rights. It would eliminate the Water Court's duty to complete water rights adjudication by July 1, 2030, and repeals several related statutes. The bill also prohibits the Board of Land Commissioners from acquiring private water rights for state lands. Additionally, it requires the state to sell isolated land parcels with water rights to their current lessees, impacting water rights holders, the Water Court, and state land management.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentEliminates water rights adjudication deadline and prohibits state acquisition of water rights, reducing regulatory oversight of water resources.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

signed · Montana · House May 12, 2025

HB 411: Exempt agricultural property from open space levies

House Bill 411 (HB 411) exempts agricultural property from local property tax levies that are used to fund open space initiatives. This means that owners of land classified as agricultural will no longer be required to pay the portion of their property taxes designated for open space purposes. The bill also allows counties to reduce any open space payments made to agricultural properties that are now exempt from these levies. This change applies retroactively to property tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing tax revenue for these programs and defunding open space initiatives.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing funding for conservation initiatives that protect natural areas and limit environmental protection efforts.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 26: Repeal mercury thermostat collection act

HB 26, titled "Repeal mercury thermostat collection act," eliminates the existing Mercury-Added Thermostat Collection Act. This bill removes state requirements that prohibited the sale and installation of mercury-added thermostats. It also discontinues mandates for manufacturers to operate collection and recycling programs, for wholesalers to provide collection sites, and for related education, outreach, and annual reporting. The repeal of these specific sections of the Montana Code Annotated removes these environmental regulations concerning mercury thermostats.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals mercury thermostat collection requirements, removing mandates for recycling, disposal, and reporting that protected against mercury pollution.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment