Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB188: Revising solar energy policy laws
Status: Chaptered, July 14, 2025
What the bill says
An act establishing shared solar and utility requirements; providing for transmission or distribution interconnection for shared solar energy facilities; distinguishing shared solar customers from net metering customers; providing rulemaking authority; providing definitions; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT ESTABLISHING SHARED SOLAR AND UTILITY REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION INTERCONNECTION FOR SHARED SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES; DISTINGUISHING SHARED SOLAR CUSTOMERS FROM NET METERING CUSTOMERS; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Short title. [Sections 1 through 6] may be cited as the "Montana Solar Shares Act". Section 2. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 through 6], unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following definitions apply: (1) "On-bill credit" means a kilowatt-hour credit applied to a subscribing customer's account to offset the consumption of electrical energy. (2) "Person" means an individual, firm, partnership, company, association, corporation, city, town, or local government entity or any other state, federal, or private entity, whether organized for profit or not. (3) (a) "Public utility" means an electric utility regulated by the commission pursuant to Title 69, chapter 3, on [the effective date of this act], including the public utility's successors or assignees. (b) The term does not or (ii) a subscribing customer. (4) "Shared solar energy facility" means a solar energy facility whose output is shared through subscriptions and that: (a) is connected to a public utility's distribution system behind a production meter that is capable of - 1 - Authorized Print Version - SB 188 ENROLLED BILL - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 SB 188 …
Sponsors
- Pope, Christopher (D, 33) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Veto Override
- : (S) Veto Override Vote in Progress
- : (S) Vetoed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading House Amendments
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Votes
- Do Pass (April 12, 2025): 46 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 11, 2025): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 9, 2025): 54 yea, 43 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 8, 2025): 56 yea, 41 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 28, 2025): 38 yea, 11 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 27, 2025): 40 yea, 10 nay, passed
Subjects: Energy, Rule Making
Common questions
- What is SB188?
- SB188 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revising solar energy policy laws.
- What does SB188 do?
- In its own words: An act establishing shared solar and utility requirements; providing for transmission or distribution interconnection for shared solar energy facilities; distinguishing shared solar customers from net metering customers; providing rulemaking authority; providing definitions; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of SB188?
- Chaptered as of July 14, 2025. Latest action: (S) Veto Override (July 14, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB188?
- Pope, Christopher (D, 33).
- Where is the official record for SB188?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2812
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.