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MontanaHB 63369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Revise certain mine application/permit provisions

Sponsored By: Gary Parry (Republican)

Became Law

EnergyEnvironmental ProtectionMining and MineralsRule Making

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Stronger mine cleanup and water rules

The law requires mine operators to reclaim and revegetate surface lands. Operators must grade, backfill, reduce highwalls, control and treat mine water, protect soil, and seal tunnels and shafts. They must manage toxic materials and refuse, plan and control subsidence, and protect fish, wildlife, and hydrologic functions. Operators cannot place waste outside the bonded permit area or where erosion could move it beyond the boundary. These steps protect nearby land and water and add clear cleanup duties and limits for operators.

Broader right to a mine hearing

You can ask for a contested-case hearing if you applied, hold a permit, own land, or filed written objections. You must file a written request within 30 days of the department’s decision and list your grounds. Hearings follow Montana’s Administrative Procedure Act. The hearing must start within 30 days of your request, and issues are limited to those you raised or that the department did not address. Anyone who ran an informal conference cannot take part in the hearing decision, and the board mails its decision within 20 days.

Clearer timelines and local notice for permits

The department must decide administrative completeness within 90 days and notify the applicant in writing. After that, the applicant must publish a local notice once a week for four weeks. Local governments and utilities get notice, and people with an interest have 30 days after publication to object and may ask for a local informal conference; the department must hold it within 30 days and issue a decision within 60 days. Within 120 days of administrative completeness, the department must say if the application is acceptable, and it has 120 days to review any revision; major changes trigger a new review. If an EIS is required, the final EIS is published at least 15 days before written findings. After acceptability, the department publishes notice for two weeks; people have 10 days to object and 20 days to request a local conference, and the department must decide within 10 days after that conference. The department must issue written findings within 60 days after acceptability.

Federal review can void parts of law

If the U.S. Secretary of the Interior disapproves any part under 30 CFR 732, that part of the law is void. Within 15 days of that federal action, the department must notify the code commissioner.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Gary Parry

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Gayle Lammers

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 488 • No: 2

House vote • 4/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 98 • No: 1

House vote • 4/16/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 97 • No: 1

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 48 • No: 0

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 48 • No: 0

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/19/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/7/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/6/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/2/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/23/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/18/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate

    4/17/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred

    4/16/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/11/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/11/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/10/2025Senate

  13. Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/8/2025Senate

  14. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    3/20/2025Senate

  16. Referred to Committee

    3/14/2025Senate

  17. First Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  18. Transmitted to Senate

    3/7/2025House

  19. 3rd Reading Passed

    3/7/2025House

  20. 2nd Reading Passed

    3/5/2025House

  21. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    3/1/2025House

  22. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    2/28/2025House

  23. Hearing

    2/24/2025House

  24. First Reading

    2/22/2025House

  25. Referred to Committee

    2/22/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/8/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/21/2025

    PDF

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