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MontanaHB 21769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Transfer the state building energy conservation program to the Dept. of Administration A&E division

Sponsored By: John Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Signed by Governor

EnergyAppropriationsState Government

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

A&E runs energy upgrades with savings tests

Starting July 1, 2025, the Architecture and Engineering Division runs the state building energy program. It collects utility data, hires engineers, and designs and builds upgrades. Projects must meet savings tests: for bonds, estimated savings must be more than bond payments. For general fund or capital‑account projects, estimated savings must be more than project cost plus yearly interest equal to 3% of the unpaid balance. The division reports to the governor by September 1 of each even‑numbered year.

Savings pay back state energy projects

Starting July 1, 2025, the budget lists each agency’s estimated yearly energy savings. Unless the legislature disapproves, agencies transfer those savings to the energy conservation repayment account until the project’s cost plus yearly interest (3% of the unpaid balance) is repaid. Agencies’ utility budgets are reduced by the approved transfer amounts. Money in the repayment account can be used, by appropriation, for analyses, data work, oversight, and monitoring. If the account has more than $2,000,000 left at the end of a biennium, the extra moves to the energy conservation capital projects account to fund new improvements.

DEQ keeps federal ARRA energy funds

Starting July 1, 2025, the Department of Environmental Quality keeps federal ARRA funds tied to earlier energy projects. DEQ may also receive transfers and interest for unpaid ARRA project balances after that date. DEQ can use these funds only as allowed by federal rules and U.S. Department of Energy guidance.

Coordination with House Bill 47

If this act and House Bill 47 both change section 90-4-607, this act uses a coordinated version. The division’s duties include analyzing utility data, doing energy studies, building improvements, moving funds, training staff, and monitoring projects. The coordinated text removes the sentence that linked monitoring to covering bond debt service.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Fitzpatrick

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 587 • No: 8

House vote • 4/8/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote • 4/7/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/4/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 44 • No: 6

House vote • 2/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 100 • No: 0

House vote • 2/3/2025

Do Pass As Amended

Yes: 100 • No: 0

House vote • 2/3/2025

AMD-HB0217.001.001 Fitzpatrick J DO PASS

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/5/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/1/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/22/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/21/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    4/18/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/9/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/8/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/8/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/7/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/4/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading

    4/4/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading

    4/3/2025Senate

  13. Committee Report

    4/1/2025Senate

  14. Committee Executive Action

    3/31/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    3/12/2025Senate

  16. Referred to Committee

    2/20/2025Senate

  17. 1st Reading

    2/6/2025Senate

  18. Transmitted to Senate

    2/5/2025House

  19. 3rd Reading

    2/5/2025House

  20. 2nd Reading

    2/3/2025House

  21. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    2/3/2025House

  22. Committee Report

    1/30/2025House

  23. Committee Executive Action

    1/30/2025House

  24. Committee Executive Action

    1/30/2025House

  25. Fiscal Note Printed

    1/22/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/15/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    4/1/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/3/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/15/2025

    PDF

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