PRIA Logo™
MontanaHB 93269th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Generally revise conservation financing laws

Sponsored By: Ken Walsh (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Environmental ProtectionState FinanceAppropriationsAlcoholFishRevenue, State

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

More groups can get habitat grants

Starting July 1, 2025, more applicants can seek habitat funding. Eligible applicants now include state, tribal, and federal agencies; conservation districts; irrigation districts; grazing associations; weed control districts; 501(c)(3) nonprofits; and other approved entities. The law also expands what funds can pay for, including habitat and watershed work, range and drought projects, weed control, reducing livestock–wildlife conflicts and disease risks, supporting state and tribal wildlife program staff, and species of conservation need. Projects no longer need a county to fund its own weed program to qualify.

Two-year funding to launch programs

For the biennium starting July 1, 2025, the law funds implementation: $7.5 million from the stewardship account, $2 million from the habitat improvement fund, and $500,000 from the wildlife crossings fund. This money helps the department run the program and support projects during the 2025–2027 period.

Marijuana revenue now funds habitat

Starting July 1, 2025, the state redirects marijuana revenue to conservation. After a 3‑month reserve, 11% goes to the HEART fund. The rest is split: 20% to a new Habitat Legacy Account, 4% each to State Parks, Trails, and Nongame Wildlife, and up to $200,000 (or 3%) to Veterans; the remainder goes to the general fund. Money in the Habitat Legacy Account is then split each fiscal year: 75% to land and wildlife stewardship, 20% to habitat projects, and 5% to wildlife crossings. If the stewardship account’s unobligated balance is over $50,000,000 (adjusted yearly by the consumer price index), the split becomes 80% to habitat projects and 20% to crossings.

New accounts for habitat and crossings

Starting July 1, 2025, the law creates three state accounts for conservation. Stewardship funds can secure habitat, pay for conservation with public access, and cover state water projects up to $4,000,000 each year with Natural Resources. A second account funds wildlife habitat improvement grants. A third account funds wildlife highway crossings, studies, planning, construction, maintenance, staffing, and can match federal funds; Fish, Wildlife, and Parks consults Transportation and may send funds to DOT for eligible work. Interest stays and unspent money carries forward. The water‑project authority ends June 30, 2033.

New rules to score habitat projects

Starting July 1, 2025, Fish, Wildlife, and Parks must adopt rules with a scoring system to rank habitat projects. The council gives preference to proposals with public access, more partners, and more outside funding. Voting seats are reset to include a wildlife biologist, a tribal member, an ag or livestock producer or representative, a conservation group member, and a weed control association representative. Definitions clarify “habitat” and align “noxious weed” with state law. The agency may use up to 15% of program spending for administration, up from 10%.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ken Walsh

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Becky Edwards

    Democrat • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 472 • No: 124

House vote • 4/30/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 88 • No: 12

House vote • 4/29/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 89 • No: 11

Senate vote • 4/25/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 38 • No: 11

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

AMD-HB0932.001.004 Loge D/PASS

Yes: 33 • No: 16

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

AMD-HB0932.001.005 McGillvray D/PASS

Yes: 47 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

Do Concur As Amended

Yes: 36 • No: 14

House vote • 4/5/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 71 • No: 27

House vote • 4/4/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 70 • 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 Senate Amendments

    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

    4/29/2025House

  13. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/25/2025Senate

  14. 3rd Reading

    4/25/2025Senate

  15. Revised Fiscal Note Requested

    4/24/2025House

  16. 2nd Reading

    4/23/2025Senate

  17. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    4/23/2025Senate

  18. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    4/23/2025Senate

  19. Committee Report

    4/16/2025Senate

  20. Committee Executive Action

    4/15/2025Senate

  21. Hearing

    4/10/2025Senate

  22. Hearing Canceled

    4/7/2025Senate

  23. Referred to Committee

    4/7/2025Senate

  24. 1st 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

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation