Montana's LC 1608 establishes a Habitat Legacy Account funded by marijuana revenue to support wildlife conservation. It allocates 75% of annual funds to the Land and Wildlife Stewardship Account for habitat acquisition, 20% to the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Account for projects, and 5% to the Big Game Highway Crossings Account for wildlife crossing infrastructure. If the Stewardship Account exceeds $50 million in unused funds, allocations shift to 80% for improvement projects and 20% for crossings. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks administers all accounts, with funds restricted to specific conservation purposes like habitat protection, wildlife projects, and highway crossing design.
This bill (LC 3736) was introduced to establish a state energy conservation standard but died in committee on May 23, 2025, without progressing further. The provided context does not include details about the proposed standard's specific requirements, affected entities (such as building owners, utilities, or manufacturers), or any mechanisms for implementation. As a draft that never advanced beyond the initial assignment stage, no concrete policy changes or provisions were defined in the available information. Therefore, a substantive summary of its content or impact cannot be provided based on the given context.
This bill (LC 1313) aimed to revise state laws governing conservation easements - legal agreements that protect land from development. It would have directly affected landowners, farmers, conservation groups, and local governments by altering how easements are created, managed, and enforced. The proposed changes included updated requirements for easement documentation and new oversight processes for land conservation projects. However, the bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as it was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025. No policy changes were enacted.
This bill (LC 2866) was a proposed revision of laws governing conservation easements, which are legal agreements protecting land for conservation purposes. It was drafted in late 2024 but never advanced beyond the drafting stage, dying in process on May 27, 2025. The bill's specific changes to easement rules were never finalized or considered by the legislature. As a result, it did not affect any landowners, conservation groups, or government agencies. The legislative process for this bill concluded without any action.
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.
House Bill 932 revises laws related to funding for conservation efforts, primarily by reallocating a portion of the state's marijuana tax revenue. The bill establishes a new Habitat Legacy Account, which receives 20% of the net balance from the Marijuana State Special Revenue Account after an initial transfer. Funds from this Habitat Legacy Account are then distributed into three other new accounts. These accounts are dedicated to securing wildlife habitat, funding wildlife improvement projects, and supporting the design and construction of big game and wildlife highway crossings to enhance animal movement and safety. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is responsible for administering these new accounts.
SB 541 creates a 14-member Pollinator Health Task Force in Montana, including representatives from agriculture, conservation, tribes, beekeeping, and state agencies. The task force must develop a state strategy focused on protecting pollinators through research, public education, habitat expansion, and recommendations for agencies and landowners. It requires a final report to the legislature by the 70th session, detailing specific actions like pest management, native plant promotion, and communication plans between beekeepers and pesticide users. The bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund for task force costs during the 2025-2027 biennium and terminates December 31, 2026. This directly affects Montana's agricultural industries, beekeepers, landowners, and conservation efforts reliant on pollinators.
SB 406 would require Montana's investor-owned utilities to implement energy conservation programs achieving at least 1% of their average annual electricity sales in savings by 2026. Utilities must conduct biennial assessments to identify cost-effective conservation opportunities (like efficient appliances, lighting, and grid improvements) and submit plans for commission approval. The law mandates that programs be funded through customer rates, with utilities allowed to recover costs and share in rewards for successful conservation investments. It aims to reduce peak electricity demand, improve grid reliability, and defer costly infrastructure investments without specifying outcomes.
HB 7 implements and funds the reclamation and development grants program, appropriating over $13.9 million from the natural resources projects state special revenue account. The bill allocates funds to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) for grants beginning July 1, 2025. These grants support planning for reclamation and development projects, pilot water storage initiatives, and specific prioritized projects for political subdivisions and local governments. Grant recipients, which include various counties, cities, and state agencies, must meet conditions such as having an approved project scope, securing matching funds, and complying with auditing requirements.
