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MontanaHB 68469th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Eliminate deadline for water quality data review

Sponsored By: Steve Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Became Law

Environmental ProtectionWater

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Better water monitoring and public input

The Department of Environmental Quality monitors state waters and lists threatened or impaired areas. It uses all available data and changes the list only when there is sufficient credible data. Before a final list, the department gives public notice and 60 days for comments, and it shares the documents it used (for a reasonable fee). Anyone can ask to add, remove, or reprioritize a water body by submitting data; the department reviews within 180 days, and you can appeal its decision. The department reviews and updates the list at least every 5 years. It keeps a data system to check data and makes it available on request. Waters without credible data are removed and then checked again in the next field season.

Clear rules to rank polluted waters

The department, with a statewide advisory group, uses set factors to choose which listed waters get cleanup plans first. It rates each water as high, moderate, or low priority and must validate the data before calling any water high priority.

Statewide group guides water cleanup plans

The law creates a 14‑member statewide advisory group with members from agriculture, cities, industry, recreation, and others. The department gives public notice of meetings, seeks public comments, and, if more than one nomination comes from an interest, asks nominators to agree on one.

Faster TMDL timelines for new permits

If you apply for a new individual discharge permit to a listed water without a TMDL for that pollutant, the department starts a TMDL within 30 days. It must finish the TMDL within 180 days of getting your application unless an allowed exception applies. If it misses the 180 days, it must explain in writing within 30 days and set a finish date after trying to agree with you; if no agreement, it sets one within 60 days. If the department cites a lack of resources, it may ask you to help fund the work. You can ask the board for a hearing within 15 days of the timeframe letter; if both sides waive a formal hearing, an informal one happens within 30 days, and work continues. The department cannot call your application incomplete just because no TMDL exists. For applications pending on April 27, 2015, the same 180‑day and follow‑up timelines ran from that date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Steve Fitzpatrick

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 394 • No: 88

House vote • 4/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 95 • No: 3

House vote • 4/16/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 97 • No: 1

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 42 • No: 6

House vote • 4/9/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 38 • No: 5

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 64 • No: 35

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 58 • No: 38

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

    4/10/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/10/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/9/2025Senate

  13. Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/5/2025Senate

  14. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/4/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    3/27/2025Senate

  16. Referred to Committee

    3/17/2025Senate

  17. First Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  18. Transmitted to Senate

    3/7/2025House

  19. 3rd Reading Passed

    3/7/2025House

  20. 2nd Reading Passed

    3/6/2025House

  21. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    3/3/2025House

  22. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    3/3/2025House

  23. Hearing

    2/24/2025House

  24. First Reading

    2/24/2025House

  25. Referred to Committee

    2/24/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/5/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/24/2025

    PDF

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