Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB587: Revise mine reclamation laws
Status: Signed into law, May 14, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising mine reclamation laws; revising the definition of material damage; clarifying hydrologic and geologic information for a permit; providing rulemaking authority; amending sections 82-4-203 and 82-4-222, mca; providing for contingent voidness; and providing an immediate effective date and a retroactive applicability date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING MINE RECLAMATION LAWS; REVISING THE DEFINITION OF MATERIAL DAMAGE; CLARIFYING HYDROLOGIC AND GEOLOGIC INFORMATION FOR A PERMIT; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDING SECTIONS 82-4-203 AND 82-4-222, MCA; PROVIDING FOR CONTINGENT VOIDNESS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY DATE. Section 1. Section 82-4-203, MCA, is amended to read: "82-4-203. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in this part the following definitions apply: (1) "Abandoned" means an operation in which a mineral is not being produced and that the department determines will not continue or resume operation. (2) "Adjacent area" means the area outside the permit area where a resource or resources, determined in the context in which the term is used, are or could reasonably be expected to be adversely affected by proposed mining operations, including probable impacts from underground workings. (3) "Affected drainage basin" means an area of land where surface water and ground water quality and quantity are affected by mining activities and where they drain to a common point. (4) (a) "Alluvial valley floor" means the unconsolidated stream-laid deposits holding streams where water availability is sufficient for subirrigation or flood irrigation agricultural activities. (b) The term does not include upland areas that are generally overlain by a thin veneer of colluvial deposits composed chiefly of debris from sheet erosion and deposits by …
Sponsors
- Parry, Gary (R, 35) · primary sponsor
- Usher, Barry (R, 19)
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
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (S) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 16, 2025): 32 yea, 18 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 15, 2025): 30 yea, 20 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 7, 2025): 55 yea, 44 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 5, 2025): 56 yea, 42 nay, passed
Subjects: Rule Making, Environmental Protection, Mining and Minerals
Common questions
- What is HB587?
- HB587 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise mine reclamation laws.
- What does HB587 do?
- In its own words: An act revising mine reclamation laws; revising the definition of material damage; clarifying hydrologic and geologic information for a permit; providing rulemaking authority; amending sections 82-4-203 and 82-4-222, mca; providing for contingent voidness; and providing an immediate effective date and a retroactive applicability date.
- What is the status of HB587?
- Signed into law as of May 14, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 14, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB587?
- Parry, Gary (R, 35), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB587?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1509
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.