# Montana HB 84: Revise liability, training for prescribed fires Montana HB 84, Revise liability, training for prescribed fires, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Steve Gist (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-16 (Chapter Number Assigned); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB84-2025 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Montana HB 84 - State: Montana - Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) - Title: Revise liability, training for prescribed fires - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2024-12-12 - Last action: 2025-05-16, Chapter Number Assigned - Sponsor: Steve Gist (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Fires and Fire Protection, Liability, Property, Rule Making - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 6 (484 yes, 9 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Lower liability with certified burns: mixed, high. The law shields certified prescribed fire managers, and landowners who use them, from property damage claims when the burn follows the law and DNRC rules. They are still liable if their negligence or worse caused or helped spread the fire. Others who set or leave a fire that spreads must pay all da… - Burn permits and small campfire rules: mixed, low. You must get a written permit from the local protection agency to start a prescribed fire. During wildfire season, or an expanded season, you also need a permit for slash, land‑clearing, debris, and some open fires. No permit is needed for a recreational fire under 48 inches across that is in a non… - Certified fire manager program and fund: mixed, low. DNRC runs a certification program for prescribed fire managers, covering laws, safety, weather, smoke, burn plans, and contingencies. DNRC can set training standards, recognize other states, charge fees, and revoke certifications for rule violations. You do not need certification to burn on your ow… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Steve Gist (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-17 | House | Do Concur | pass | 97 | 2 | | | 2025-04-16 | House | Do Concur | pass | 100 | 0 | | | 2025-04-11 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 48 | 0 | | | 2025-04-10 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 48 | 0 | | | 2025-02-21 | House | Do Pass | pass | 94 | 4 | | | 2025-02-20 | House | Do Pass | pass | 97 | 3 | | ## Actions (34) - 2025-05-16: Chapter Number Assigned (House) - 2025-05-12: Signed by Governor (House) - 2025-05-05: Transmitted to Governor (House) - 2025-05-02: Signed by President (Senate) - 2025-05-01: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2025-04-23: Returned from Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-18: Sent to Enrolling (House) - 2025-04-17: 3rd Reading Senate Amendments (House) - 2025-04-16: 2nd Reading Senate Amendments (House) - 2025-04-11: Returned to House with Amendments (Senate) - 2025-04-11: 3rd Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-10: 2nd Reading (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Committee Report (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Committee Executive Action (Senate) - 2025-03-21: Hearing (Senate) - 2025-03-03: Referred to Committee (Senate) - 2025-02-24: 1st Reading (Senate) - 2025-02-21: Transmitted to Senate (House) - 2025-02-21: 3rd Reading (House) - 2025-02-20: 2nd Reading (House) - 2025-02-18: Revised Fiscal Note Printed (House) - 2025-02-17: Revised Fiscal Note Signed (House) - 2025-02-17: Revised Fiscal Note Received (House) - 2025-02-14: Committee Report (House) - 2025-02-14: Committee Executive Action (House) - 2025-02-13: Revised Fiscal Note Requested (House) - 2025-02-10: Hearing (House) - 2025-01-09: Fiscal Note Printed (House) - 2025-01-08: Fiscal Note Signed (House) - 2025-01-08: Fiscal Note Received (House) - 2025-01-06: 1st Reading (House) - 2024-12-20: Referred to Committee (House) - 2024-12-18: Fiscal Note Requested (House) - 2024-12-12: Introduced (House) ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2025-04-22: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=49e456ca-d897-4ea9-9ce9-2799b6de1ed9) - As Amended (Version 3), 2025-04-08: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=61ac221a-536c-418c-91f8-c8a62c8a80e3) - As Amended (Version 2), 2025-02-18: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=521bb334-2d1f-4f67-8c4f-859c636a8850) - Introduced, 2024-12-12: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=ce49603a-6393-4e1b-a9eb-b79fbcf4dc76) ## Related bills - SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed) - HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed) - HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed) - SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed) - SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed) - SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=49e456ca-d897-4ea9-9ce9-2799b6de1ed9) - [As Amended (Version 3) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=61ac221a-536c-418c-91f8-c8a62c8a80e3) - [As Amended (Version 2) (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=521bb334-2d1f-4f67-8c4f-859c636a8850) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=ce49603a-6393-4e1b-a9eb-b79fbcf4dc76) ## Related - [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025) - [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025) - [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025) - [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025) - [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025) - [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025) - [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills) - [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB84-2025 (as of 2026-10-12).