Environment (Conservation)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 2567: Clarify water right abandonment

This bill clarifies Montana water law by protecting water rights from being considered abandoned when users reduce or stop using water due to drought or conservation programs. It directly affects landowners, farmers, and water users who must temporarily reduce water use during dry periods or participate in federal or state conservation agreements. The key provision states that nonuse during a declared drought does not count toward abandonment if the area is under a moderate drought designation or follows a local drought plan. Additionally, the bill prevents temporary water leases or changes from being used as evidence of abandonment and delays the abandonment rules for existing rights until they are legally determined. These changes aim to provide more certainty for water users facing reduced water availability without risking permanent loss of their rights.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill protects water rights during droughts, preventing abandonment of water use, which supports conservation efforts and sustainable water management for environmental protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 22, 2025

LC 2184: Revise term length of conservation easements

This bill modifies Montana's conservation easement laws by limiting their maximum duration to 40 years and preventing restrictions that would stop current agricultural activities on the land. It also prohibits conditions that would require land under easement to be transferred to federal control. The legislation affects public bodies and private organizations that hold conservation easements, ensuring agricultural producers can continue farming on their land and that easements cannot force land into federal administration. These changes update existing statutes to provide clearer time limits and protect ongoing agricultural use while maintaining conservation goals.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill limits conservation easement duration to 40 years and prevents restrictions on agricultural activities, weakening long-term environmental protection mechanisms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 6, 2025

LC 222: Revise commercial property assessed clean energy laws

This bill amends Montana's Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to expand financing opportunities for multifamily housing facilities with at least five residential units. It updates legal definitions to explicitly include multifamily properties and clarifies what qualifies as an energy conservation measure, such as insulation, window upgrades, HVAC modifications, and electric vehicle charging stations. The changes allow local governments to establish districts within their jurisdictions to administer these financing programs, enabling property owners to pay for energy efficiency improvements through property assessments rather than traditional loans. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the legislature.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill expands PACE financing for multifamily housing energy efficiency upgrades including insulation, windows, HVAC, and EV charging stations.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands clean energy financing for multifamily housing, promoting energy conservation measures like insulation, window upgrades, and EV charging stations, directly supporting environmental protection and clean energy adoption.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill expands PACE financing for multifamily housing, enabling energy upgrades that improve housing quality and sustainability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 1992: Revise penalties for violations under 310 permit process

This bill updates penalties for violations of Montana's Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act, affecting individuals who work on streambed projects without proper permits or consent. It increases the maximum civil penalty for each day of continuing violation from $500 to $5,000 and clarifies that each day of violation counts as a separate offense. The bill also outlines how courts can order restoration of damaged streams and specifies which court handles cases depending on the cost of restoration. Additionally, it directs how recovered fines and penalties must be deposited into county funds.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by increasing penalties for streambed violations and clarifying restoration requirements under Montana's Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 2393: Provide nutrient pollutant loading offsets

This bill allows industrial facilities and other permitted water polluters in Montana to receive credits, known as nutrient pollutant loading offsets, when they reduce nutrient pollution in local watersheds. These credits enable facilities to legally discharge more nutrients or reduce pollution from other sources, provided the overall nutrient load in the watershed decreases. The law sets specific credit values based on where pollution reductions occur, awarding full credits for point source reductions, 80% for upstream nonpoint source reductions, and 50% for downstream nonpoint source reductions. It also directs the state environmental department to establish standardized credit amounts for conservation projects like riparian fencing, wetland development, and septic system removal. The bill requires the department to update existing policies and regulations to implement this nutrient trading system.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes nutrient pollution reduction in watersheds through offset credits, directly advancing environmental protection and water quality conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 5, 2025

LC 1754: Exempt agricultural property from open space levies

This bill exempts agricultural property from open space property tax levies in Montana, directly affecting landowners who classify their property for agricultural use. The key provision amends state law to remove agricultural land from the list of properties subject to these levies, which fund various county services like parks, roads, and fire control. If a county had already collected payments from exempt agricultural property, the bill allows counties to reduce those payments to refund the overcharged amount. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and applies retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill exempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing local government revenue for parks, roads, and fire control services.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts agricultural land from open space levies that fund parks, conservation, and environmental services, reducing local funding for environmental protection.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 2187: Resolution to release federal wilderness study areas

This bill seeks to remove approximately 663,000 acres of land in Montana from consideration for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System. The legislation directly affects federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service that were previously designated as wilderness study areas under state and federal laws. By releasing these areas from wilderness designation consideration, the bill aims to resolve legal uncertainty and reduce federal litigation costs associated with managing these lands. The measure would allow federal agencies to manage these areas without the restrictions that would apply if they were officially designated as wilderness.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes 663,000 acres from wilderness consideration, weakening environmental protections and reducing conservation of natural resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 2826: Establishing utility energy conservation efficiency standards

This bill establishes mandatory energy conservation efficiency standards for Montana investor-owned electric utilities, requiring them to implement programs that achieve specific energy savings targets. Utilities must conduct independent assessments every two years to identify cost-effective conservation opportunities and submit annual targets that cannot be lower than 1% of retail load. The Montana Utilities Commission will create rules to oversee program evaluation, fund allocation, and public communication while utilities must acquire all achievable energy conservation measures that are cost-effective for ratepayers. The legislation defines energy conservation investments to include efficient appliances, lighting, industrial equipment, and other demand-side programs that reduce electricity consumption.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes mandatory energy conservation efficiency standards for utilities, requiring energy savings targets and independent assessments to promote energy efficiency.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates energy conservation efficiency standards and requires utilities to achieve specific energy savings targets, directly promoting resource conservation and reducing environmental impact.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Utility Regulation Conservation

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 1302: Create auction or lottery licenses for antelope and swans

This bill allows Montana's wildlife commission to sell licenses for antelope and swans through either a competitive auction or a lottery system. The legislation permits wildlife conservation organizations focused on these species to conduct the sales if authorized, allowing them to keep up to 10% of proceeds to cover expenses. All remaining funds from these sales must be used by the state department to benefit antelope and migratory game bird management programs, separate from existing funding sources. The bill also gives the commission authority to create rules governing how these licenses are issued and how the auctions or lotteries are conducted.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds wildlife conservation programs for antelope and migratory game birds, supporting environmental protection and natural resource management.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 10, 2024

LC 534: Revise liability, training for prescribed fires

This bill creates a certification program for prescribed fire managers in Montana and limits their liability when conducting controlled burns. It requires individuals who manage prescribed fires to complete training covering safety, weather, fire behavior, and other relevant topics, while allowing the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to set rules for certification, fees, and standards. The legislation provides legal protection for certified managers and compliant landowners from liability for wildfires, except in cases of negligence or when their actions directly caused the fire to spread. Additionally, the bill mandates written permits for all prescribed fires and expands permit requirements to include slash-burning and land-clearing fires during wildfire season, while exempting small recreational fires under specific conditions.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens environmental protection by requiring certified training for prescribed fire managers, reducing wildfire risk and promoting safer forest management practices.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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