All Roll Calls
Yes: 270 • No: 25
MontanaHB 61669th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House
Allow data modeling for mine bond release
Sponsored By: Steve Gist (Republican)
Became Law
Environmental ProtectionMining and MineralsRule Making
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Data and deadlines for bond review
DEQ must decide if your bond release application is administratively complete within 60 days and list any fixes. Within 30 days after that decision, or as soon as weather allows, DEQ inspects the site. You can include predictive models with your monitoring data. DEQ can use those models in its evaluation.
Staged bond releases tied to results
When you finish plugging, backfilling, regrading, and drainage control as approved, DEQ releases 60% of the bond for that area. After revegetation and soil stability are shown, DEQ can release more tied to soil replacement. The final bond is released after the responsibility period and successful revegetation. DEQ can keep money if disturbed areas still add suspended solids (shown by sampling or modeling), prime farmland productivity is not restored, or reclamation, including water replacement, is incomplete.
Law void if Interior disapproves
If the U.S. Secretary of the Interior disapproves this law under 30 CFR 732, the law becomes void. Within 15 days of that disapproval taking effect, DEQ must notify the code commissioner.
Public notice and hearings on bond release
With any bond release application, the permittee must include copies of letters sent to neighbors, local governments, planning offices, and local sewer or water authorities. After DEQ finds the application complete, the permittee must publish a DEQ‑approved notice once a week for four weeks in a local newspaper. Anyone with a valid legal interest or an authorized agency can object within 30 days after the last notice and request a hearing. DEQ must hold the hearing within 30 days in the local area or in Helena (objector’s choice), advertise it for two weeks, and issue a decision within 30 days after the hearing. DEQ must also notify the city or county by certified mail at least 30 days before releasing all or part of the bond.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Steve Gist
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Daniel Zolnikov
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/15/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 49 • No: 1
House vote • 4/14/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 47 • No: 0
House vote • 3/7/2025
Vote
Yes: 90 • No: 9
House vote • 3/6/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 84 • No: 15
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/5/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/1/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
4/24/2025HouseSigned by President
4/24/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/23/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/18/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/15/2025House3rd Reading Concurred
4/15/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
4/14/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred
4/12/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred
4/11/2025SenateHearing
3/21/2025SenateReferred to Committee
3/14/2025SenateFirst Reading
3/14/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
3/7/2025House3rd Reading Passed
3/7/2025House2nd Reading Passed
3/6/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed
3/1/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed
2/28/2025HouseHearing
2/24/2025HouseFirst Reading
2/21/2025HouseReferred to Committee
2/21/2025HouseIntroduced
2/20/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/16/2025
Introduced
2/20/2025