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MontanaHB 5969th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise board of water well contractors laws

Sponsored By: Mike Vinton (Republican)

Became Law

WaterProfessions and Occupations O-Z

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Higher $25,000 bonds for well licenses

To get or keep a water well contractor or monitoring well constructor license, you must carry a $25,000 surety bond. If you hold more than one license category, one $25,000 bond covers them all. A firm with more than two licensed contractors can post a single $25,000 firm bond. State or federal employees bonded by their agency do not need a personal bond while employed; a bond is required if that employment ends.

Complaint process and tougher discipline

The board investigates complaints about licensees and checks rule compliance. Before discipline, the board gives the licensee a chance to respond and to come into compliance, and it may require both sides to appear and try to settle. If the board finds violations, it can order repairs or reconstruction at the licensee’s expense, require training, place a license on probation, suspend a license for up to one year, or revoke it and bar reapplication for three years. Grounds include violating board rules or orders, not following repair orders, violating probation, misrepresenting facts on reports or applications, and failing to keep required qualifications.

Stricter oversight and reporting for well firms

A licensed water well contractor must be in charge of all well construction for a firm and must be the person who signs contracts. Any driller who does work must be employed by a licensed water well contractor. After you finish a well, you must file a well log with the state bureau within 60 days, using the department’s form. Give the well location by at least two methods. The bureau can accept electronic filings and can return incomplete or incorrect reports for you to fix and refile.

Home and farm wells: license or permit

You must hold a valid license to construct, drill, alter, abandon, decommission, or rehab a water or monitoring well. If you own or lease land used for farming, ranching, other agricultural work, or as your home, you can get a permit to do the work yourself. The permit must list your name and address, the well’s location, your ownership interest, the construction method, and the well’s intended use. The board issues the permit when your land use and ownership fit the rule and your method meets the board’s minimum standards. Apprentice drillers may work only under the personal supervision of a licensed contractor or driller.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mike Vinton

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Wylie Galt

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 620 • No: 125

House vote • 4/25/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 57 • No: 43

House vote • 4/25/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 35 • No: 14

House vote • 4/23/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 58 • No: 42

House vote • 4/23/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 38 • No: 11

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Not Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 3/27/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 3/26/2025

AMD-HB0059.002.001 Galt D/PASS

Yes: 35 • No: 13

House vote • 3/26/2025

Do Pass As Amended

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 1/29/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 1

House vote • 1/28/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/16/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/12/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/5/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/2/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/1/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/29/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/28/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted

    4/25/2025Senate

  9. 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted

    4/25/2025House

  10. 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted

    4/23/2025House

  11. 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report Adopted

    4/23/2025Senate

  12. Conference Committee Report Received

    4/18/2025House

  13. Conference Committee Report Received

    4/17/2025Senate

  14. Conference Committee Appointed

    4/14/2025Senate

  15. Conference Committee Appointed

    4/11/2025House

  16. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Not Concurred

    4/11/2025House

  17. Returned to House with Amendments

    3/28/2025Senate

  18. 3rd Reading Concurred

    3/27/2025Senate

  19. 2nd Reading Concurred as Amended

    3/26/2025Senate

  20. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried

    3/26/2025Senate

  21. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    3/24/2025Senate

  22. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    3/21/2025Senate

  23. Hearing

    3/7/2025Senate

  24. Referred to Committee

    2/18/2025Senate

  25. First Reading

    1/30/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/28/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 4)

    4/24/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    3/26/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    1/23/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    12/11/2024

    PDF

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