Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB79: Exempt small projects from fire hazard reduction agreements
Status: Signed into law, March 27, 2025
What the bill says
An act allowing for a fire hazard reduction agreement exemption for small-scale activities, including the harvesting of firewood; requiring a written exemption for certain minimum slash hazard activities; and amending sections 76-13-401 and 76-13-408, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT ALLOWING FOR A FIRE HAZARD REDUCTION AGREEMENT EXEMPTION FOR SMALL-SCALE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE HARVESTING OF FIREWOOD; REQUIRING A WRITTEN EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN MINIMUM SLASH HAZARD ACTIVITIES; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 76-13-401 AND 76-13-408, MCA. Section 1. Section 76-13-401, MCA, is amended to read: "76-13-401. Definitions. As used in this part, the following definitions apply: (1) "Certificate of clearance" means a certificate issued by the department acknowledging that the fire hazard has been reduced or managed in accordance with this part and the fire hazard reduction agreement or agreements. (2) "Contractor" means the person who executes the fire hazard reduction agreement and is responsible to fulfill the obligations established by the agreement. (3) "Department" means the department of natural resources and conservation provided for in Title 2, chapter 15, part 33. (4) "Exemption certificate" means an exemption from the provisions of this part that must be granted by the department for the harvest of merchantable trees within the boundaries of an incorporated city or town. (5) "Fire hazard" means slash and debris resulting from timber cutting, timber stand improvement, or right-of-way clearing operations that produce a cover of flammable material in which fire could spread through a cutting or adjacent area. (6) "Fire hazard reduction agreement" means a contract made to ensure compliance with this part and with the rules …
Sponsors
- Cochran, Curtis (R, 90) · primary sponsor
- Cuffe, Mike (R, 1)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (March 3, 2025): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Concur (March 1, 2025): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 24, 2025): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 23, 2025): 100 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Property, Forests and Forestry, Fires and Fire Protection
Common questions
- What is HB79?
- HB79 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Exempt small projects from fire hazard reduction agreements.
- What does HB79 do?
- In its own words: An act allowing for a fire hazard reduction agreement exemption for small-scale activities, including the harvesting of firewood; requiring a written exemption for certain minimum slash hazard activities; and amending sections 76-13-401 and 76-13-408, mca.
- What is the status of HB79?
- Signed into law as of March 27, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 13, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB79?
- Cochran, Curtis (R, 90), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB79?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0535
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.