All Roll Calls
Yes: 525 • No: 221
MontanaHB 569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House
Long-range building appropriations
Sponsored By: John Fitzpatrick (Republican)
Signed by Governor
AppropriationsState GovernmentBuildings and Building RegulationsState Finance
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
21 provisions identified: 16 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.
Big funding for state buildings
The law adds major money for state buildings and repairs. It transfers $150 million to the long‑range building account by June 30, 2027. It funds many capital projects, including $150 million for the Montana State Prison expansion, and other large upgrades across agencies. Up to $2.8 million is set aside for Capitol complex major repairs, with Budget Director approval. It provides $3 million for statewide DOT maintenance and $2 million for planning studies on projects over $10 million. The Department of Administration can move funds among needed fund types within these projects.
Capitol Complex gets $50 million for fixes
The state provides $50 million to fix and renew Capitol Complex buildings. OBPP may move the money to the Department of Administration, and DOA can adjust amounts with OBPP’s approval. The funds cannot pay for leased space or add new state‑owned square footage. They may be used with specified earlier projects.
Extra funding for prison housing
The law provides $6.95 million in fiscal year 2027 to the Department of Corrections for the Montana State Prison low‑side housing expansion. The legislature states its intent that this funding becomes part of the agency’s base budget beginning July 1, 2025. This is construction‑related support and does not change taxes or create a household payment.
More land for habitat and access
The law provides $12 million for Habitat Montana land purchases. It adds $18 million in enhanced Habitat Montana funding for habitat projects. It also provides $500,000 to buy or secure fishing access sites.
Park upgrades, water, and grants
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park receives $1.385 million for its water system. Parks and outdoor recreation sites get $5.02 million for development and upgrades; at Judith Landing, some of this must fight noxious weeds. FWP receives $13.7 million for grant programs and $2.25 million for contract program delivery. Bannack State Park receives $250,000 for historic preservation.
Reserves to keep projects moving
The law sets aside $10 million to cover market, supply, and inflation hits on state building projects. The Department of Administration must justify any use and cannot expand a project’s scope. It also creates a Department of Military Affairs capital reserve of $31.505 million. DMA must submit each project and budget for review, and the budget director may approve, change, or deny it.
Upkeep for parks, access, hatcheries
Fish, Wildlife & Parks gets $2.8 million for maintenance of administrative buildings and $1.59 million for fishing access site upkeep. It funds $2.5 million for hatchery repairs and $250,000 to control weeds at fishing access sites. Wildlife areas receive $3.38 million for maintenance. State parks get $4.5 million for major maintenance and $250,000 for weed control.
Military facility upgrades and upkeep
The law funds repairs and upgrades at military sites, such as $2.45 million for indoor range remediation and $1.97 million for building system repairs. It gives $3 million in federal authority for more capital improvements, with all future upkeep paid from nonstate sources. It provides $197,000 for operations at the new Billings Readiness Center, and shifts O&M from the old center after it is sold.
New state buildings need operating money
The law stops the legislature from authorizing a new state facility unless it also funds added operating and maintenance costs. If a facility is approved but not occupied by year-end, that money returns to the original fund, prorated if the building opens midyear. The law expands what counts as a new facility to include additions and enclosing open space; replacement under $2.5 million is excluded. It defines capital development as projects costing $2.5 million or more, new facilities costing $250,000 or more, and state land purchases that need an appropriation.
Stronger rules for building repairs
The division must spend at least 80% of major repair money on health, safety, and core systems. No more than 20% can go to remodeling or looks. The major repair listing cutoff rises from $150,000 to $300,000. Agencies must file a long‑range program and 6‑year facilities plan by April 1 before a session. Buildings worth $300,000 or less are left out of the statewide inventory. Except for large repairs over $2.5 million, a capital development request must also appear in the agency’s 6‑year plan unless OBPP approves otherwise.
Behavioral health funding shift and limits
The state transfers $26.5 million to the Board of Investments by June 30, 2026 to build a behavioral health facility. The budget director must adopt a plan from the Board and DPHHS first, and agencies must report progress through December 31, 2026. The law cuts an earlier behavioral health capital appropriation to $28.5 million. It gives $10 million from the general fund to DPHHS for program expansion or operating costs starting July 1, 2026, with intent to add it to the base budget in 2027. It also provides $15.903 million for Montana State Hospital compliance work and forbids using these and certain 2023 funds to build or staff a guard house at that hospital.
University of Montana Clapp replacement limits
The UM Clapp project changes from a renovation to a full replacement. Total funding is $72 million ($52 million plus $20 million). The state combines the Forestry Conservation & Science Lab into the Clapp replacement on the same site. The new facility cannot be larger than the current Clapp Building and may not create new programs or push existing programs into other UM buildings. Parts of the old building may be reused only after safety, systems, energy, and long‑term cost reviews.
Cleanup for leaking fuel tanks
The Department of Environmental Quality gets $2 million to clean up leaking petroleum tanks. This applies where no financially viable responsible party exists. The funding addresses risks to health and the environment.
Cleanup funds for leaking fuel tanks
By July 1, 2025, $2 million moves from the general fund to a DEQ account to clean up leaking petroleum tanks.
Habitat and fisheries improvements statewide
The law funds $680,000 for wildlife habitat area improvements and $2 million for Future Fisheries projects. It provides $3.41 million for fish connectivity work (state and federal funds). It adds $250,000 for forest management and $1.43 million for fishery infrastructure on the Tongue and Yellowstone/Muggli areas.
More funds for the Legislature
The law raises Legislative Branch funding for the 2023–2025 period from $12.5 million to $15 million. The money remains available until it is fully spent.
Prison expansion and security upgrades
The law expands the Montana State Prison project and lets the department extend design and construction contracts to move faster. If House Bill 3 lacks enough money to replace security doors in the RHU and SAU, the Department of Administration may shift prior DOC capital funds to finish the work.
Operations money for new buildings
The law funds operations and maintenance for certain new or renovated state facilities. Examples include $50,876 for a DNRC Missoula office, $66,360 for DNRC Helena firefighter bunkhouses, $37,800 for MSU Lewis Hall elevator and access upgrades, and $173,550 for a DOA building renovation. It also provides $270,250 for the Governor’s Office at 720 Madison Avenue after the property transfers to the Department of Administration. If a project is built at FMS #3, related O&M funding must move to that facility.
Project order, standard designs, energy checks
The Department of Administration must do Montana State Hospital projects first, then Montana State Prison projects, before other projects in this act. It must standardize designs for bunkhouses, storage sheds, and MDT equipment buildings, and pay only one architectural fee per design. It must bundle generator purchases into one bid. Agencies with projects that rely on outside money must report funding status every regular session until construction starts or the project is canceled. DEQ must review projects for energy savings and send eligible ones to the state energy conservation program, which agencies must use if offered on DEQ’s terms.
University projects with nonstate funds
The Montana University System can spend up to $20 million of nonstate and auxiliary funds on campus improvements. Each project may be up to $2.5 million. The system must pay all future operations and maintenance for these projects from nonstate sources.
Faster contracting, tighter pre-bid checks
The Department of Administration may bundle design, bidding, and construction and extend current contracts to speed projects. It may start planning and design before other funds arrive and use interentity loans to pay those costs. For projects that rely on other funding, the director must approve a financial plan before bidding and may not approve if funding or scope differs from what was shown to the 69th legislature. Some appropriations only take effect if another bill funds construction. If House Bill 217 is also law, a named agency in section 8 changes to the Administration’s architecture and engineering division.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
John Fitzpatrick
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/29/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 79 • No: 19
House vote • 4/28/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 83 • No: 17
Senate vote • 4/25/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 43 • No: 6
Senate vote • 4/23/2025
Do Concur As Amended
Yes: 47 • No: 3
Senate vote • 4/23/2025
AMD-HB005.003.002 Boldman D/PASS
Yes: 50 • No: 0
House vote • 3/27/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 83 • No: 16
House vote • 3/26/2025
AMD-HB0005.002.003 Vinton DO PASS
Yes: 22 • No: 78
House vote • 3/26/2025
AMD-HB0005.002.001 Falk DO PASS
Yes: 34 • No: 66
House vote • 3/26/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 84 • No: 16
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
6/20/2025HouseSigned by Governor
6/19/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
6/10/2025HouseSigned by President
6/9/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
6/2/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/30/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/29/2025House3rd Reading Senate Amendments
4/29/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments
4/28/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
4/25/2025Senate3rd Reading
4/25/2025Senate2nd Reading
4/23/2025Senate2nd Reading Motion to Amend
4/23/2025SenateCommittee Report
4/17/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action
4/16/2025SenateHearing
4/2/2025SenateReferred to Committee
4/1/2025Senate1st Reading
3/28/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
3/27/2025House3rd Reading
3/27/2025House2nd Reading
3/26/2025House2nd Reading Motion to Amend
3/26/2025House2nd Reading Motion to Amend
3/26/2025HouseCommittee Report
3/20/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action
3/19/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/29/2025
As Amended (Version 4)
4/23/2025
As Amended (Version 3)
4/17/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
3/20/2025
Introduced
12/11/2024
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