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

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HJ 16: Resolution on renewable energy

House Joint Resolution 16 (HJ 16) is a resolution where the Montana Legislature recognizes the economic benefits that renewable energy projects have brought to the state. It expresses the Legislature's support for the future responsible development of new renewable energy projects in Montana. Copies of this resolution are to be sent to the Governor, the Montana Public Service Commission, the Montana Rural Electric Cooperatives' Association, and the Montana Congressional Delegation.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly recognizes renewable energy benefits and expresses support for future development, aligning with pro-renewable indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly expresses support for renewable energy development, aligning with environmental protection through clean energy promotion and economic benefits recognition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Utility Regulation

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 889: Revise local growth policy and county zoning laws

HB 889 aimed to revise laws governing local government land use regulations and county zoning. The bill proposed that certain requirements related to "sensitive lands" could not be included in growth policies for areas located outside of city limits. It also detailed the required contents for local growth policies, affecting how counties and cities plan for future development and manage resources. This legislation would have impacted local governments' authority over land use planning in unincorporated areas.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes 'sensitive lands' requirements from county zoning outside cities, weakening protections for environmentally sensitive areas by limiting local government authority over development in ecologically important zones.85% confidence

Tags Local Government

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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

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

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signed · Montana · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 190: Allow water right holders to consent to waive adverse effects analysis in permit or change applications

SB 190 allows individuals or entities applying for new water use permits or changes to existing water rights to streamline their application process. This is achieved by enabling existing water right holders to voluntarily provide written consent. If consent is given, the applicant is no longer required to prove that their proposed water use will not negatively affect the specific consenting water rights. This change aims to simplify the permit approval process under certain conditions.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves requirement to assess environmental impact of water use changes, weakening protections by bypassing adverse effects analysis for permit approvals.85% confidence

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 473: Prohibit weather modification.

SB 473 prohibits most weather modification activities in Montana, specifically banning large-scale "geoengineering" projects like spraying particles into the atmosphere to alter climate (e.g., stratospheric aerosol injection or marine cloud brightening). It exempts established cloud seeding practices used for agriculture and snowmaking under existing law (85-3-101 through 85-3-424). The bill directly affects researchers, companies, or entities conducting weather-altering experiments within Montana’s borders. Key provisions ban intentionally releasing chemicals or devices for weather control, temperature modification, or sunlight intensity changes, except for permitted cloud seeding. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans large-scale geoengineering (e.g., stratospheric aerosol injection) that could alter climate, protecting environment from untested interventions while exempting existing agricultural practices.95% confidence

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 460: Generally revise gravel pit laws

SB 460 would have required Montana's Department of Environmental Quality to ensure protection of surface and groundwater from open-cut mining operations. The bill amended state law to specifically mandate the department adopt rules for permits, records, and inspections, and to enforce water quality and quantity standards during mining activities. This would directly affect open-cut mining operations statewide by imposing new regulatory requirements on their water protection measures. The bill did not advance beyond committee and died in the 2025 legislative session.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates DEQ to enforce water quality standards for mining, requiring new rules to protect groundwater/surface water from open-cut mining operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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signed · Montana · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SB 61: Revise laws related to considerations for measuring of streamflow

SB 61 updates Montana's water policy to require accurate, real-time streamflow measurement for determining water availability. It affects water rights holders and state water managers by ensuring new water uses can only be approved when legally and physically available, protecting existing rights. The bill integrates these measurement standards into Montana's existing water law framework under Title 85. This policy change aims to improve the accuracy of water distribution decisions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill ensures sustainable water distribution via accurate streamflow measurement, conserving water as a natural resource and preventing overuse that could harm ecosystems, aligning with environmental protection goals.80% confidence

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 55: Provide for legislative intent regarding streamflow information

SB 55 is a procedural bill that states Montana's legislative intent to support coordinated collection and sharing of streamflow data. It recognizes that timely streamflow information - gathered by state, federal, tribal, and local entities - is essential for managing water under existing laws, including the Montana Water Use Act and drought planning. The bill does not create new programs or funding but affirms the legislature's position that better data coordination benefits water managers, municipalities, and agricultural users in addressing seasonal and climate-related water supply challenges.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill affirms legislative intent to support coordinated streamflow data for water management, a natural resource conservation effort under existing environmental laws.85% confidence

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 315: Allocate funding for petroleum tank cleanup

SB 315 revises laws related to the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board, establishing new procedures for reimbursing owners and operators of Montana petroleum facilities for preventative measures. These measures include the removal of inactive tanks, upgrades to automatic tank gauges, and replacement of older single-walled tanks and piping. Owners or operators can receive up to $2,000 per facility every 1,000 days for approved preventative actions. The bill also modifies procedures for discussing responses to petroleum releases, making meetings discretionary for releases under $100,000.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds preventative measures (tank removal/upgrades) to prevent petroleum leaks, reducing environmental contamination risk per bill's focus on cleanup and protection.95% confidence