Bill > HB6

This bill appropriates funds from the natural resources projects state special revenue account to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for various renewable resource grants during the 2025-2027 biennium. The bill allocates money for specific types of grants, including emergency projects, planning, irrigation development, private grants, and nonpoint source pollution reduction, with a total appropriation reduced from $5.25 million to $4.75 million. The bill provides detailed lists of prioritized infrastructure and irrigation grant projects, with each project receiving $125,000 (with one exception of a $20,000 grant). The bill establishes strict conditions for grant recipients, including having approved scopes of work, documenting matching funds, complying with accounting and reporting requirements, and executing grant agreements with the department. Additionally, the bill amends existing rules for grant applications, introducing a new ranking criteria that considers the ratio of locally provided match to the annual operating budget of the system. The bill ensures that grant recipients cannot receive funds from both the reclamation and development grants program and the renewable resource grant and loan program for the same project in the same biennium, and it provides flexibility for fund adjustments based on demand or emergencies. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, and requires notification to tribal governments.

Budget and Finance

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/20251/LC0711