Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB130: Revise state wildland fire policy and funding
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising state fire policy regarding the duties of a state or local fire protection entity; authorizing the state to bill a federal fire protection agency for state or county costs incurred in fire suppression; amending section 76-13-115, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING STATE FIRE POLICY REGARDING THE DUTIES OF A STATE OR LOCAL FIRE PROTECTION ENTITY; AUTHORIZING THE STATE TO BILL A FEDERAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY FOR STATE OR COUNTY COSTS INCURRED IN FIRE SUPPRESSION; AMENDING SECTION 76-13-115, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Section 76-13-115, MCA, is amended to read: "76-13-115. State fire policy. The legislature finds and declares (2) it is a priority to minimize property and resource loss resulting from wildfire and to minimize expense to Montana taxpayers, which is generally accomplished through an aggressive and rapid initial attack effort; (3) interagency cooperation and coordination among local, state, and federal agencies are intended and encouraged, including cooperation when restricting activity or closing areas to access becomes necessary; (4) fire prevention, hazard reduction, and loss mitigation are fundamental components of this policy; (5) all property in Montana has wildfire protection from a recognized fire protection entity; (6) the department has a duty to engage in wildfire suppression activities in the state regardless of land ownership if the department determines that the federal wildfire suppression activities within 5 miles of department or county wildland fire protection are not consistent with 76-13-104. The department may, at its sole discretion, bill the responsible recognized federal protection agency for costs incurred in suppression when appropriate. - 1 - …
Sponsors
- Jones, Llew (R, 18) · primary sponsor
- Gillespie, Bruce "Butch" (R, 9)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : 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
Votes
- Do Concur (April 9, 2025): 47 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 8, 2025): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (January 29, 2025): 99 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Pass As Amended (January 27, 2025): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
- AMD-HB0130.001.002 Jones DO PASS (January 27, 2025): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: State Finance, Federal Government, Fires and Fire Protection
Common questions
- What is HB130?
- HB130 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise state wildland fire policy and funding.
- What does HB130 do?
- In its own words: An act revising state fire policy regarding the duties of a state or local fire protection entity; authorizing the state to bill a federal fire protection agency for state or county costs incurred in fire suppression; amending section 76-13-115, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of HB130?
- Signed into law as of May 5, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 19, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB130?
- Jones, Llew (R, 18), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB130?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0591
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.