Bill > HB70

This bill requires the Environmental Quality Council (EQC) to conduct a comprehensive study of wildland firefighting in Montana, focusing on fire suppression operations, resource efficiency, and forest management policies. The study will investigate firefighting efforts by state and federal governments on tribal, private, and public lands, examining the management policies that impact operational success, the effective use of equipment and firefighters, and the role of private resources in fire suppression. The bill acknowledges the increasing wildfire risks in Montana, noting that home exposure to moderate to high wildfire risk has grown significantly since 1990, and aims to explore factors such as regulatory barriers, incomplete government partnerships, and potential economic opportunities like developing markets for forest byproducts. The EQC is mandated to complete the study by September 15, 2026, and report its findings and recommendations to the 70th legislature, with $50,000 appropriated from the general fund to cover study costs. The bill includes contingency provisions that would void the act if no appropriation is made or if the appropriation is vetoed, and it is effective upon passage, terminating on December 31, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/20251/LC0548