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MontanaHB 93269th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Generally revise conservation financing laws

Sponsored By: Ken Walsh (Republican)

Became Law

Environmental ProtectionState FinanceAppropriationsAlcohol and DrugsFish and WildlifeRevenue, State

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Habitat Legacy fund and stewardship rules

Beginning July 1, 2025, the state creates a Habitat Legacy Account run by Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Each year, 75% of this money goes to a stewardship account, 20% to habitat projects, and 5% to wildlife road crossings. If the stewardship account holds over $50,000,000 (adjusted each year for CPI-U inflation), transfers shift to 80% for habitat projects and 20% for crossings. The stewardship account keeps its interest and unspent money. It can only secure wildlife habitat, fund conservation projects with public access, or pay up to $4,000,000 a year for state water projects (this water-project authority ends June 30, 2033).

New rules and grants for habitat

Beginning July 1, 2025, the habitat program is expanded and a dedicated project account is created that keeps its interest. Funding can support habitat and watershed work, drought resilience, disease‑risk reduction, and tribal wildlife programs. More groups can apply, including state, tribal, and federal agencies, local districts, grazing groups, communities, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Projects must provide at least a 25% match, and at least 25% of the final grant must be cash, with clear goals and monitoring. A county is eligible only if it levies at least 1.6 mills or appropriates at least $100,000 for its weed program. Spending is limited to approved control methods; project admin and monitoring are capped at 10%, and the department’s admin at 15%. The department must set rules and a scoring system with advice from a broad council, and the law clarifies key habitat and weed‑management definitions.

New fund for wildlife road crossings

Beginning July 1, 2025, the state creates a fund for big‑game and wildlife highway crossings. Money can only pay for crossing design, construction, studies, planning (including disease risk), staffing, and matching federal funds. Fish, Wildlife, and Parks decides eligible projects and must consult Transportation, and the fund can pay the Transportation department for projects. Deposits can include transfers, gifts, and grants. The fund earns interest and keeps unspent money.

Two-year conservation funding for 2025–27

For the biennium starting July 1, 2025, the law gives $7.5 million to Fish, Wildlife, and Parks from the stewardship account. It also provides $2.0 million from the habitat improvement project account and $500,000 from the crossings account. This money supports program work and grants.

Excess marijuana money funds conservation

Beginning July 1, 2025, after keeping a three‑month reserve, the state moves extra marijuana revenue each year. Up to $6 million or 11% goes to the HEART account, then the rest is split: 20% to wildlife habitat, 4% to state parks, 4% to trails, 4% to nongame wildlife, and up to 3% or $200,000 to veterans and surviving spouses, plus $150,000 for crisis‑intervention team training. The prior $300,000 canine grant ends June 30, 2025. Any remaining balance goes to the general fund.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ken Walsh

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Becky Edwards

    Democrat • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 471 • No: 123

House vote • 4/30/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 88 • No: 12

House vote • 4/29/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 89 • No: 10

House vote • 4/25/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 38 • No: 11

House vote • 4/23/2025

AMD-HB0932.001.005 McGillvray D/PASS

Yes: 47 • No: 3

House vote • 4/23/2025

Do Concur As Amended

Yes: 36 • No: 14

House vote • 4/23/2025

AMD-HB0932.001.004 Loge D/PASS

Yes: 33 • No: 16

House vote • 4/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 71 • No: 27

House vote • 4/4/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 69 • No: 30

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

    5/1/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/30/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate

    4/30/2025House

  9. Revised Fiscal Note Printed

    4/29/2025House

  10. Revised Fiscal Note Signed

    4/29/2025House

  11. Revised Fiscal Note Received

    4/29/2025House

  12. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred

    4/29/2025House

  13. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/25/2025Senate

  14. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/25/2025Senate

  15. Revised Fiscal Note Requested

    4/24/2025House

  16. 2nd Reading Concurred as Amended

    4/23/2025Senate

  17. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried

    4/23/2025Senate

  18. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried

    4/23/2025Senate

  19. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    4/16/2025Senate

  20. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    4/15/2025Senate

  21. Hearing

    4/10/2025Senate

  22. Hearing Canceled

    4/7/2025Senate

  23. Referred to Committee

    4/7/2025Senate

  24. First Reading

    4/7/2025Senate

  25. Hearing

    4/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/30/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/23/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    3/31/2025

    PDF

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