Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB160: Revise alternative energy project laws to require a bond prior to construction
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act generally revising wind and solar decommissioning and bonding laws; requiring decommissioning bonding prior to the construction and commencement of commercial operation; revising plan and bond requirements and timelines; establishing penalties; amending sections 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, and 75-26-310, mca; and providing a delayed effective date.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING WIND AND SOLAR DECOMMISSIONING AND BONDING LAWS; REQUIRING DECOMMISSIONING BONDING PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND COMMENCEMENT OF COMMERCIAL OPERATION; REVISING PLAN AND BOND REQUIREMENTS AND TIMELINES; ESTABLISHING PENALTIES; AMENDING SECTIONS 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, AND 75-26-310, MCA; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: Section 1. Section 75-26-301, MCA, is amended to read: "75-26-301. Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply: (1) "Board" means the board of environmental review provided for in 2-15-3502. (2) "Commission" means the public service commission provided for in 2-15-2602. (2)(3) "Decommission" or "decommissioning" means: (a) except as provided in 75-26-304(2) [section 2(4)], the removal of buildings, cabling, electrical components, roads, or any other facilities associated with a wind generation or solar facility; (b) except as provided in 75-26-304(2) [section 2(4)], reclamation of surface lands to the previous grade and to comparable productivity in order to prevent adverse hydrologic effects; and (c) (i) the removal of the solar facility after the end of the facility's useful life or abandonment; or (ii) the removal of an aboveground wind turbine tower after the end of a wind generation facility's useful life or abandonment. (3)(4) "Department" means the department of environmental quality …
Sponsors
- Phalen, Bob (R, 17) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Process
- : (S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (S) Tabled in Committee
- : (S) Sponsor List Modified
- : (S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Printed
- : (S) Fiscal Note Printed
- : (S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Signed
- : (S) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Received
- : (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- : (S) Fiscal Note Received
Subjects: Energy, State Government
Common questions
- What is SB160?
- SB160 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise alternative energy project laws to require a bond prior to construction.
- What does SB160 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act generally revising wind and solar decommissioning and bonding laws; requiring decommissioning bonding prior to the construction and commencement of commercial operation; revising plan and bond requirements and timelines; establishing penalties; amending sections 75-26-301, 75-26-304, 75-26-308, and 75-26-310, mca; and providing a delayed effective date.".
- What is the status of SB160?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Process (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB160?
- Phalen, Bob (R, 17).
- Where is the official record for SB160?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1597
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.