Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB935: Limits to Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer withdrawals
Status: Signed into law, May 19, 2025
What the bill says
An act providing for a study of department suspension or closure of new ground water appropriations in the fox hills-hell creek aquifer; providing for a feasibility study of ground water availability; providing reporting requirements; and providing an immediate effective date and a termination date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A STUDY OF DEPARTMENT SUSPENSION OR CLOSURE OF NEW GROUND WATER APPROPRIATIONS IN THE FOX HILLS-HELL CREEK AQUIFER; PROVIDING FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF GROUND WATER AVAILABILITY; PROVIDING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A TERMINATION DATE. Section 1. Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer -- ground water study. (1) The bureau of mines and geology shall complete a feasibility study on ground water availability from the Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer in the department administrative boundaries 39E, 39FJ, 39G, 39H, 40D, 40E, 40P, 40Q, 40R, 40S, 42A, 42C, 42J, 42K, 42KJ, 42L, and 42M. The study may (b) a limited field collection of water levels and pressure for wells with historical data; (c) a preliminary water budget for the Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer; and (d) a preliminary model to evaluate the effects of pumping on water levels and pressure. (2) The bureau shall report the progress and results of its study to the water policy interim committee established in 5-5-231. The committee shall consider the results of the study and make recommendations to the legislature for department suspension or closure of new ground water appropriations from the Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 85, chapter 2, part 3, and the …
Sponsors
- Thiel, Morgan (R, 30) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : 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
- : (H) 3rd Reading Senate Amendments
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments
Votes
- Do Concur (April 30, 2025): 100 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 29, 2025): 99 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 25, 2025): 41 yea, 8 nay, passed
- Do Concur As Amended (April 23, 2025): 45 yea, 4 nay, passed
- AMD-HB0935.003.002 Flowers D/PASS (April 23, 2025): 37 yea, 11 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 5, 2025): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Water, Appropriations, Revenue, State
Common questions
- What is HB935?
- HB935 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Limits to Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer withdrawals.
- What does HB935 do?
- In its own words: An act providing for a study of department suspension or closure of new ground water appropriations in the fox hills-hell creek aquifer; providing for a feasibility study of ground water availability; providing reporting requirements; and providing an immediate effective date and a termination date.
- What is the status of HB935?
- Signed into law as of May 19, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 19, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB935?
- Thiel, Morgan (R, 30).
- Where is the official record for HB935?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0557
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.