Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB301: Generally revise utility lines and facilities laws
Status: Signed into law, May 16, 2025
What the bill says
An act generally revising utility lines and facilities laws; allowing the commission to grant a public utility a certificate of public convenience and necessity for electric transmission facility construction; establishing optional ratemaking procedures and timelines; providing rulemaking authority; providing definitions; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING UTILITY LINES AND FACILITIES LAWS; ALLOWING THE COMMISSION TO GRANT A PUBLIC UTILITY A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITY CONSTRUCTION; ESTABLISHING OPTIONAL RATEMAKING PROCEDURES AND TIMELINES; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, advanced transmission technology offers multiple advantages, including increased capacity on existing transmission infrastructure, significantly reduced wildfire risk, especially when an installed powerline conductor has a thermal expansion coefficient no greater than that of an advanced composite conductor, and improved grid reliability, and is a cost-effective solution to Montana's current congestion and curtailments of transmission pathways; and WHEREAS, the intention of this legislation is to expedite the necessary and overdue transmission upgrades needed to serve the ever-increasing demand of power; and WHEREAS, the Public Service Commission has the decisionmaking authority to determine the balance between modernizing the grid to increase reliability and identifying what costs are reasonable or unreasonable to ensure ratepayer affordability. Section 1. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 through 3], unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following definitions apply: (1) "Advanced transmission technology" means a technology that increases the capacity, efficiency, and reliability of an existing or new transmission facility. For the purposes of [sections 1 through 3], the term applies to the following technology: - 1 - Authorized Print …
Sponsors
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22) · primary sponsor
- Parry, Gary (R, 35)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed 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
- : (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments
Votes
- Do Pass (April 18, 2025): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (April 17, 2025): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 15, 2025): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 14, 2025): 89 yea, 7 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 27, 2025): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass As Amended (March 26, 2025): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Energy, Rule Making, Utilities
Common questions
- What is SB301?
- SB301 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise utility lines and facilities laws.
- What does SB301 do?
- In its own words: An act generally revising utility lines and facilities laws; allowing the commission to grant a public utility a certificate of public convenience and necessity for electric transmission facility construction; establishing optional ratemaking procedures and timelines; providing rulemaking authority; providing definitions; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of SB301?
- Signed into law as of May 16, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 16, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB301?
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB301?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0322
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.