Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HJ46: Study resolution on data centers
Status: Failed, May 22, 2025
What the bill says
A joint resolution of the senate and the house of representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study of data centers and their potential impacts on montana's economy and electric generation, distribution, and transmission systems; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 70th legislature.
From the engrossed text:
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY OF DATA CENTERS AND THEIR POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON MONTANA'S ECONOMY AND ELECTRIC GENERATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS; AND REQUIRING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE REPORTED TO THE 70TH LEGISLATURE. WHEREAS, following the development of data centers throughout the West, national companies have expressed their interest in constructing multiple data centers in Montana; and WHEREAS, data centers have the potential to bolster economic development, create jobs, and generate tax revenue for Montana; and WHEREAS, data centers require significant amounts of energy to operate, which may strain the reliability, safety, and capacity of Montana's electric generation, distribution, and transmission systems, requiring significant capital investments; and WHEREAS, two proposed data centers in Montana are estimated to consume as much as megawatts of electricity by 2030, which amounts to enough electricity to power approximately 320,000 households for 1 year; and WHEREAS, increased strain on Montana's electric grid may have negative effects on other commercial, industrial, and residential customers of Montana's regulated utilities, including on affordability; and WHEREAS, Montana policymakers should carefully balance the high-load requirements of data centers with the needs of existing residential, commercial, and industrial electricity customers to ensure grid reliability. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE …
Sponsors
- Millett, Tom (R, 2) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Committee
- : (S) Tabled in Committee
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Referred to Committee
- : (S) 1st Reading
- : (H) Transmitted to Senate
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (April 16, 2025): 91 yea, 7 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 15, 2025): 90 yea, 7 nay, passed
Subjects: Energy, Interim Study Resolutions, Utilities
Common questions
- What is HJ46?
- HJ46 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Study resolution on data centers.
- What does HJ46 do?
- In its own words: A joint resolution of the senate and the house of representatives of the state of montana requesting an interim study of data centers and their potential impacts on montana's economy and electric generation, distribution, and transmission systems; and requiring that the final results of the study be reported to the 70th legislature.
- What is the status of HJ46?
- Failed as of May 22, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Committee (May 22, 2025).
- Who sponsored HJ46?
- Millett, Tom (R, 2).
- Where is the official record for HJ46?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0933
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.