Sen. Wylie Galt

Maddy summaryThis procedural Senate Resolution (SR 18) confirms Governor's appointment of Amanda Knuteson to the Board of Environmental Review for a term ending January 1, 2027. It directly affects the Board of Environmental Review by formally accepting the Governor's appointment, as required by Montana law (section 5-5-302, MCA). The resolution did not advance beyond the Natural Resources Committee, where it died on May 23, 2025. This is a routine confirmation process, not a new policy.

Maddy summarySB 480 would prohibit discharging firearms within 500 yards of any occupied home or outbuilding on Class II recreational waterways (like rivers and lakes used for activities such as fishing or boating). This rule would directly affect the public, including anglers, boaters, and others using these waterways, by restricting firearm use near residential areas. The bill amends Montana’s existing law to add this specific safety measure, building on current restrictions for public access to Class II waters. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 119 would repeal Montana's existing law (Sections 69-5-201 and 69-5-202, MCA) that gave incumbent electric utilities the right of first refusal when selling utility assets. This means the bill would remove a legal priority allowing current utility companies to be offered the chance to purchase their own assets before other buyers. The change would directly affect incumbent electric utilities by eliminating this specific advantage in asset sales. The bill's core policy change is to allow new or competing utility providers to bid directly for assets without the incumbent utility having this automatic right. The bill was introduced but died in committee in May 2025 without becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 150 creates a new "cigar bar room" license endorsement for existing alcohol licensees that also hold gambling licenses (e.g., casinos or gaming venues). It allows premium cigar smoking only in a designated, enclosed area with strict requirements: cigars must meet specific handmade criteria (no filters, 100% tobacco), the venue must generate at least 10% of annual revenue from cigar sales, and no other tobacco/vaping products may be smoked or sold there. The designated area must have proper ventilation, be separate from nonsmoking zones, and exclude minors under 21. The bill also exempts these cigar rooms from standard clean indoor air laws and requires a 2026 study on Montana’s gaming industry.

Maddy summarySB 481 prohibits motorboats and personal watercraft on designated Class II waters in Montana. It directly affects recreational users who operate motorized watercraft on these specific waterways, which are likely smaller or sensitive streams or rivers under state classification. The key provision amends Montana law to explicitly ban such motorized use on Class II waters, replacing previous language that only implied restrictions. The bill also requires the commission to adopt rules for managing recreational use on Class I and II waters, including procedures for limiting or restricting activities.

Maddy summarySB 403 would have granted Montana's Fish and Wildlife Commission the authority to set the specific dates and duration for the state's annual muzzleloader heritage hunting season, replacing a previously fixed schedule. This change would directly affect hunters using traditional muzzleloading rifles for deer and elk during this designated season. The bill would have allowed the Commission to adjust the season dates and length based on wildlife management needs, rather than requiring it to follow a fixed timeline (e.g., "second Saturday after regular season for 9 days"). The season itself would have permitted hunting deer or elk with muzzleloaders using specific ammunition and firearm types, as defined by existing regulations.

Maddy summarySB 543 would allow candidates for Montana's Supreme Court Chief Justice and Justice positions to list their political party affiliation on nomination forms and ballots, changing these races from nonpartisan to include party designation. The bill amends election laws to require that candidates indicating party affiliation have it appear "in no more than three words" below their name on ballots, while those not indicating a party would be labeled "Nonpartisan." It also increases the filing fee for these judicial races to $1,750 and updates ballot preparation rules to accommodate party designations. This bill directly affects candidates and voters in Montana Supreme Court elections, altering how judicial candidates are presented on ballots. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee on May 23, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 153 would have increased Montana's limits for video gambling machines, raising the maximum amount playable per game from $2 to $4 and the maximum value of free games or credits awarded per game from $800 to $1,199. The bill directly affected video gambling machine operators and players by changing these financial limits. Key provisions included amending existing law to set these new caps and requiring operators to pay cash for player credits shown on valid vouchers. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and never became law, so these changes were never implemented.

Maddy summarySB 358 would have revised Montana's groundwater permitting rules, primarily by clarifying when permits are required for well use. It set specific limits for exempt uses: 20 gallons per minute or 2 acre-feet annually for non-permitted wells in the Rye Creek zone, and 35 gallons per minute or 10 acre-feet annually for most other parcels (with combined wells requiring permits). The bill also required well owners in chronically dewatered areas to install monitoring devices within two years and added reporting rules for groundwater use. However, the bill died in committee in May 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 434 provides a property tax rebate of up to $400 for Montana homeowners who lived in their principal residence for at least 7 months during tax year 2024. It directly affects individual homeowners (not businesses or multiple properties) who paid Montana property taxes on their primary residence, with the rebate amount capped at $400 or the actual taxes paid, whichever is lower. To claim the rebate, homeowners must submit an application electronically (August 15-October 1, 2025) or by mail (postmarked by October 1), including proof of residency and property ownership. The rebate is not subject to Montana income tax, and false claims may result in penalties of 300% of the rebate plus 12% annual interest.