# Montana HB 55: Revising public utility resource planning laws Montana HB 55, Revising public utility resource planning laws, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Gary Parry (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-16 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB55-2025 - 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 55 - State: Montana - Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) - Title: Revising public utility resource planning laws - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2024-12-18 - Last action: 2025-05-16, Chapter Number Assigned - Sponsor: Gary Parry (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Appropriations, Energy, Utilities - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 6 (394 yes, 99 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Independent watchdog for utility purchases: benefit, medium. Beginning July 1, 2025, utilities that seek to recover costs for new power resources must run a competitive bid overseen by an independent evaluator. The commission keeps an approved evaluator list and sets rules by July 1, 2026; the utility must sign a contract with the evaluator. Evaluators monit… - More public input in utility plans: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, each utility files an integrated least‑cost plan at least every three years. Before filing, it must hold at least four public meetings in its Montana service area. The commission publishes complete plans, allows at least 60 days for public comments, holds public meetings, an… - Faster power buys with less oversight: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, an “opportunity resource” is a power resource needed to meet a need shown in a plan but not known to be for sale until a timely chance appears. Competitive bidding rules with an independent evaluator do not apply to these buys, so utilities can act faster but with less overs… - Planning and oversight costs in rates: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the commission can hire outside consultants to review plans and charge the utility; those costs are recoverable in rates. The commission may also charge a fee to cover selecting and representing an independent evaluator, and utilities can recover that cost in rates. Fees col… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Gary Parry (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-22 | House | Do Concur | pass | 63 | 35 | | | 2025-04-18 | House | Do Concur | pass | 87 | 11 | | | 2025-04-15 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 49 | 0 | | | 2025-04-03 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 46 | 4 | | | 2025-01-21 | House | Do Pass | pass | 74 | 25 | | | 2025-01-20 | House | Do Pass | pass | 75 | 24 | | ## Actions (37) - 2025-05-16: Chapter Number Assigned (House) - 2025-05-12: Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-05-05: Transmitted to Governor (House) - 2025-05-02: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-05-01: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-04-24: Returned from Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-24: 1st Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-22: Sent to Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-22: 3rd Reading Senate Amendments (House) - 2025-04-18: 2nd Reading Senate Amendments (House) - 2025-04-15: Returned to House with Amendments (Senate) - 2025-04-15: 3rd Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-14: Committee Report (Senate) - 2025-04-14: Committee Executive Action (Senate) - 2025-04-12: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-04-11: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Rereferred to Committee (Senate) - 2025-04-03: 2nd Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Committee Report (Senate) - 2025-03-25: Committee Executive Action (Senate) - 2025-02-13: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Referred to Committee (Senate) - 2025-01-22: 1st Reading (Senate) - 2025-01-21: Transmitted to Senate (House) - 2025-01-21: 3rd Reading (House) - 2025-01-20: 2nd Reading (House) - 2025-01-16: Committee Report (House) - 2025-01-16: Committee Executive Action (House) - 2025-01-15: Committee Executive Action (House) - 2025-01-07: Fiscal Note Printed (House) - 2025-01-07: Fiscal Note Signed (House) - 2025-01-07: Fiscal Note Received (House) - 2025-01-06: Hearing (House) - 2025-01-06: 1st Reading (House) - 2024-12-20: Referred to Committee (House) - 2024-12-18: Fiscal Note Requested (House) - 2024-12-18: Introduced (House) ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-04-22: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=b8beedd3-356d-44f4-bf4d-cc56a79a06ac) - As Amended (Version 3), 2025-04-01: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5cc55564-e3f3-4dad-8e8a-057b4188f9c7) - As Amended (Version 2), 2025-01-16: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=c76f4ae1-db87-45a1-b348-3d8fc007546d) - Introduced, 2024-12-11: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=b26e690b-54f4-4efe-a6b9-99e1292a0a69) ## 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=b8beedd3-356d-44f4-bf4d-cc56a79a06ac) - [As Amended (Version 3) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=5cc55564-e3f3-4dad-8e8a-057b4188f9c7) - [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=c76f4ae1-db87-45a1-b348-3d8fc007546d) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=b26e690b-54f4-4efe-a6b9-99e1292a0a69) ## 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-HB55-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).