PRIA Logo™
MontanaHB 12769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise laws related to the fire suppression account

Sponsored By: Llew Jones (Republican)

Became Law

Fires and Fire ProtectionState FinanceAppropriations

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Automatic state funding for wildfire costs

In even-numbered years, after other required year-end transfers, the state moves money into the wildfire fund. This happens only if the general fund’s ending balance is above 8.3% of second‑year appropriations and will not drop below that level. The transfer aims to bring the wildfire fund up to 6% of those appropriations and does not apply in years when state law triggers budget cuts. If the fund holds more than 3% at the end of an odd‑numbered fiscal year, up to 1% can be used for fuel reduction, forest work, county equipment grants, federal‑land projects, and road work on federal lands; no more than 5% of that amount can support collaborative groups and related local government litigation. For the biennium starting July 1, 2023, up to 0.5% each year is available for fire preparedness.

Wildfire fund created with strict uses

The state creates a wildfire suppression account for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Restitution payments from private parties go into this account. Lawmakers can move money into the account, and the department has ongoing authority to spend the funds for approved uses without a new bill each time. Money can only pay for listed uses: fighting fires; fuel reduction and mitigation; forest restoration; county grants to buy firefighting gear; forest projects on federal land; support for collaborative groups and related local government litigation; road work on federal lands; and fire preparedness. The department reports each year by November 1 on how the money is spent.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Llew Jones

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Bruce "Butch" Gillespie

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 266 • No: 31

House vote • 4/2/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 36 • No: 14

House vote • 4/1/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 35 • No: 15

House vote • 1/24/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 96 • No: 1

House vote • 1/23/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    4/18/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    4/17/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/9/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/9/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/7/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/3/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/2/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/2/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/1/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    2/11/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    2/10/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    1/30/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Committee

    1/27/2025Senate

  14. First Reading

    1/27/2025Senate

  15. Transmitted to Senate

    1/27/2025House

  16. 3rd Reading Passed

    1/24/2025House

  17. 2nd Reading Passed

    1/23/2025House

  18. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    1/20/2025House

  19. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    1/17/2025House

  20. Hearing

    1/13/2025House

  21. Hearing Canceled

    1/13/2025House

  22. Fiscal Note Printed

    1/10/2025House

  23. Hearing

    1/10/2025House

  24. Fiscal Note Signed

    1/10/2025House

  25. Fiscal Note Received

    1/9/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/7/2025

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation