# Montana HB 355: Clarifying that easement rights retained when canal or ditch converted to pipeline

Montana HB 355, Clarifying that easement rights retained when canal or ditch converted to pipeline, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Ken Walsh (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-14 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB355-2025
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Montana HB 355
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Clarifying that easement rights retained when canal or ditch converted to pipeline
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-30
- Last action: 2025-05-14, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Ken Walsh (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Property, Water
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (292 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Property owners keep canal rights after pipelines: mixed, medium. Easement holders keep the right to enter, inspect, repair, and operate a canal or ditch. If it was turned into a pipeline, they keep these rights as long as the pipeline is clearly marked. No one may build on, block, or harm these easements, including return water paths, unless the holder agrees in…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ken Walsh (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Willis Curdy (Democrat), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-14 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 47 | 1 |   |
| 2025-04-12 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 49 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | House | Do Pass | pass | 98 | 2 |   |
| 2025-02-18 | House | Do Pass | pass | 98 | 2 |   |

## Actions (24)

- 2025-05-14: Chapter Number Assigned (House)
- 2025-05-05: Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-04-25: Transmitted to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-25: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-16: Returned from Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-14: Sent to Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-14: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-04-12: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-04-11: 2nd Reading Pass Consideration (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-04-09: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-03-01: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-02-20: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2025-02-19: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-02-18: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-02-13: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-02-12: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-02-06: Hearing (House)
- 2025-01-31: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-01-31: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-01-30: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2025-04-15: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=29eeb888-8a69-40f1-bece-201937808bf8)
- Introduced, 2025-01-30: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=82fe966e-f72b-4a5d-9c41-11bfbd6d5127)

## Related bills

- SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed)
- HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed)
- HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed)
- SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed)
- SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed)
- SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=29eeb888-8a69-40f1-bece-201937808bf8)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=82fe966e-f72b-4a5d-9c41-11bfbd6d5127)

## Related
- [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025)
- [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025)
- [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025)
- [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025)
- [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025)
- [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025)
- [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills)
- [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB355-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).