Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB616: Allow data modeling for mine bond release
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act providing for data modeling when releasing a strip or underground mine performance bond; providing for contingent voidness; providing rulemaking authority; amending section 82-4-232, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR DATA MODELING WHEN RELEASING A STRIP OR UNDERGROUND MINE PERFORMANCE BOND; PROVIDING FOR CONTINGENT VOIDNESS; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDING SECTION 82-4-232, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. Section 1. Section 82-4-232, MCA, is amended to read: "82-4-232. Area mining required -- bond -- alternative plan. (1) (a) Area strip mining, a method of operation that does not produce a bench or fill bench, is required where strip mining is proposed. The area of land affected must be backfilled and graded to the approximate original contour of the land. However: (i) consistent with the adjacent unmined landscape elements, the operator may propose and the department may approve regraded topography gentler than premining topography in order to enhance the postmining land use and develop a postmining landscape that will provide greater moisture retention, greater stability, and reduced soil losses from runoff and erosion; (ii) postmining slopes may not exceed the angle of repose or lesser slope as is necessary to achieve a long-term static safety factor of 1.3 or greater and to prevent slides; (iii) permanent impoundments may be approved if they are suitable for the postmining land use and otherwise meet the requirements of this part, as provided by department rules; and (iv) reclaimed topography must be suitable for the approved postmining land use. (b) Spoil …
Sponsors
- Gist, Steve (R, 25) · primary sponsor
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22)
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 15, 2025): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 14, 2025): 47 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Vote (March 7, 2025): 90 yea, 9 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 84 yea, 15 nay, passed
Subjects: Rule Making, Environmental Protection, Mining and Minerals
Common questions
- What is HB616?
- HB616 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Allow data modeling for mine bond release.
- What does HB616 do?
- In its own words: An act providing for data modeling when releasing a strip or underground mine performance bond; providing for contingent voidness; providing rulemaking authority; amending section 82-4-232, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of HB616?
- Signed into law as of May 5, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 5, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB616?
- Gist, Steve (R, 25), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB616?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2309
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.