MontanaSB 31569th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)Senate

Allocate funding for petroleum tank cleanup

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Reimbursements for preventive tank work

Beginning January 1, 2026, owners or operators of facilities that actively dispense petroleum can get paid back for certain preventive work. Eligible work includes removing inactive tanks, upgraded automatic tank gauges, replacing single-wall piping, replacing single-wall tanks 20+ years old, aging-tank investigations near 30 years, and preventive inspections. The board reimburses up to $2,000 per facility every 1,000 days. You must file one claim for the 1,000 days after your last required state compliance inspection and include the board’s required documents. The cleanup fund now pays these preventive costs, and the board sets the review and payment rules; payments depend on fund money and board approval.

Cleanup meeting rules and faster claims

Beginning January 1, 2026, meetings about a cleanup can be optional. If expected costs are over $100,000, the parties may meet instead of must meet. If costs are under $100,000, a meeting happens only if any party asks. The board also meets at least four times a year to review and approve claims, which can speed payments.

Legislature now funds admin costs

Beginning January 1, 2026, the Legislature must approve money to pay certain board and department administrative costs. Those costs are no longer automatically paid from the cleanup fund. The fund stays automatically available for reimbursements, approved preventive work, and loan repayments allowed by law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

John Esp
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Becky Edwards
Democrat • House
Janet Ellis
Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 293 • No: 0

House vote • 3/29/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote • 3/26/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/3/2025