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MontanaHB 5969th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Revise board of water well contractors laws

Sponsored By: Mike Vinton (Republican)

Signed by Governor

WaterProfessions and Occupations O-Z

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Higher $25,000 bond for well contractors

To get or hold a water well contractor or monitoring‑well constructor license, you must provide a $25,000 bond or approved equivalent. One bond covers you if you hold more than one license type. Firms with more than two licensed contractors or constructors may file one $25,000 entity bond. State or federal employees bonded by their agency do not need this bond while employed, but must post it if they leave.

New licensing and supervision for well work

You must hold the right license before you construct, drill, alter, abandon, decommission, or fix a water or monitoring well. A licensed driller must be employed by a licensed water well contractor. A firm may sign contracts as a business, but a licensed contractor must be in charge of all well work. If you hold a contractor license, you do not need a separate driller or monitoring‑well license to do the work.

Owners can drill wells with permit

If you own or lease land used for farming, ranching, agriculture, or as your home, you can do your own well or monitoring‑well work. You must first get a permit from the board and follow its minimum construction standards. Your application must include your name and mailing address, the well location, your ownership interest, the construction method, and the intended use. The board promptly issues the permit if the land use and method meet the standards.

Simpler complaint and reporting rules for licensees

When a complaint is filed, the board gives the licensee a chance to respond before any discipline starts. The board can require both sides to appear and try to settle the issue. The law repeals the old list of disciplinary actions and named grounds in statute. The law also ends the rule that drillers must file a well log within 60 days of finishing a well, along with the form and refiling process.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mike Vinton

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Wylie Galt

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 621 • No: 126

House vote • 4/25/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 57 • No: 43

Senate vote • 4/25/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 35 • No: 14

House vote • 4/23/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 58 • No: 42

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 39 • No: 11

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Not Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/27/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

AMD-HB0059.002.001 Galt D/PASS

Yes: 35 • No: 13

Senate 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

    4/25/2025Senate

  9. 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report

    4/25/2025House

  10. 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report

    4/23/2025House

  11. 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report

    4/23/2025Senate

  12. Conference Committee Appointed

    4/14/2025Senate

  13. Conference Committee Appointed

    4/11/2025House

  14. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/11/2025House

  15. Returned to House with Amendments

    3/28/2025Senate

  16. 3rd Reading

    3/27/2025Senate

  17. 2nd Reading

    3/26/2025Senate

  18. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    3/26/2025Senate

  19. Committee Report

    3/24/2025Senate

  20. Committee Executive Action

    3/21/2025Senate

  21. Hearing

    3/7/2025Senate

  22. Referred to Committee

    2/18/2025Senate

  23. 1st Reading

    1/30/2025Senate

  24. Transmitted to Senate

    1/29/2025House

  25. 3rd Reading

    1/29/2025House

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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