HB 47 revises the State Building Energy Conservation Act, which affects state agencies, the university system, and community college districts concerning energy improvements in state-owned buildings. The bill removes the Department of Environmental Quality's authority to issue energy conservation program bonds. Instead, projects will be funded from the general fund or the energy conservation capital projects account. The Department of Environmental Quality is now authorized to set an annual interest rate, not exceeding 3%, for these projects.
HB 554 changes how the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) manages wolves after they are removed from endangered species lists. It removes a previous requirement that mandated FWP to classify and regulate wolves as either game animals or furbearers. Under the amended law, the Fish and Wildlife Commission now has the discretion to declare wolves as game animals or furbearers, allowing for regulated hunting or trapping, but it is no longer a mandatory classification. The bill also retains provisions for controlling wolves to protect livestock, consistent with an approved wolf management plan.
HB 8 approves specific renewable resource projects and reauthorizes others, enabling the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to provide loans for them. These loans are available to various political subdivisions and local governments for purposes such as dam rehabilitation and irrigation system improvements. To fund these projects, the bill authorizes the issuance of up to $121,198,444 in coal severance tax bonds. Loan disbursements are subject to conditions including DNRC approval of the project's scope and budget, and the execution of a loan agreement.
This joint resolution requests an interim study on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their impact on water quality in Montana. The study, to be conducted by a legislative committee or staff, will review existing state and federal water quality laws and analyze research on the health effects of EDCs. It also aims to determine the prevalence of these chemicals in Montana. The study will offer recommendations for future legislative or regulatory changes, with final results reported to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026.
House Bill 217 transfers the State Building Energy Conservation Program from the Department of Environmental Quality to the Architecture and Engineering Division within the Department of Administration. This means the A&E Division will now manage efforts to identify state-owned buildings for energy savings, conduct energy analyses, and implement improvements. The bill also allows the Department of Environmental Quality to retain certain federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds previously allocated to the program. This change affects state agencies and aims to consolidate the administration of state building energy efficiency.
HB 180 revises sanitation laws for subdivisions, focusing on "mixing zones" associated with subsurface wastewater treatment systems. The bill prohibits local boards of health from adopting regulations that would allow these mixing zones, which are areas where treated wastewater mixes with groundwater, to extend onto adjacent properties. This measure restricts the regulatory authority of local health boards and aims to protect adjacent property owners from encroachment by neighboring septic systems. It ensures that the environmental impact of such systems remains within the boundaries of the property where they are installed.
House Joint Resolution 17 is a resolution from the Montana Legislature urging the U.S. Congress and President to take actions to promote American energy production. It calls for reforming and streamlining federal permitting obligations and revising environmental regulations that are deemed not to align with national security interests. The resolution specifically recommends that the Environmental Protection Agency immediately review and potentially suspend, revise, or rescind certain power plant regulations issued in May 2024.
SB 221 revises the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) by establishing new requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) assessments during state agency environmental reviews. Under this bill, state agencies are mandated to conduct GHG assessments for proposed actions classified as "fossil fuel activities." For other proposed actions, agencies may conduct a GHG assessment if deemed necessary for MEPA compliance. The bill clarifies that these assessments are for informational purposes, and state agencies cannot regulate greenhouse gas emissions or deny permits based solely on these GHG assessments under MEPA. This affects Montana state agencies conducting environmental reviews and entities proposing fossil fuel-related projects.
HB 285 revises the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), clarifying its purpose and impact on state agency actions and permitting decisions. The bill specifies that MEPA is a procedural law designed to provide information to the public and decision-makers, not to grant additional regulatory authority to state agencies. It also shifts the burden of proof for those challenging licensing or permitting decisions, requiring them to establish the unconstitutionality of the underlying statute. Furthermore, legal challenges must now be filed in the county where the proposed activity is located.
HB 330 creates a new system for issuing special hunting licenses for antelope and swans. Each year, the state commission may offer one antelope and one swan license through a competitive auction or lottery. Wildlife conservation organizations can be authorized to conduct these events, retaining a small portion of the proceeds to cover expenses. All remaining funds generated from these license sales will be used by the department specifically for the conservation and management of antelope and migratory game birds.
