Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB664: Repeal numeric nutrient standards
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising the nutrient criteria for montana water quality standards; removing references to numeric nutrient standards in administrative rule; repealing base numeric nutrient standards; providing directions to the department of environmental quality; providing rulemaking authority; eliminating the nutrient work group; amending section 75-5-103, mca; repealing section 75-5-321, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING THE NUTRIENT CRITERIA FOR MONTANA WATER QUALITY STANDARDS; REMOVING REFERENCES TO NUMERIC NUTRIENT STANDARDS IN ADMINISTRATIVE RULE; REPEALING BASE NUMERIC NUTRIENT STANDARDS; PROVIDING DIRECTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; ELIMINATING THE NUTRIENT WORK GROUP; AMENDING SECTION 75-5-103, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 75-5-321, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the objective of the Clean Water Act is to "restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters"; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorized the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to regulate most water quality programs in the state; and WHEREAS, beginning in 1998, the EPA "strongly encouraged" numeric nutrient standards, which the DEQ adopted in 2015; and WHEREAS, from 2011 through 2014, members of the Nutrient Work Group and the public endeavored to develop rules to govern numeric nutrient criteria, rules, and guidance. The work involved interactions between the DEQ and EPA on the proposed rules, variances, and guidance and led to the adoption of rule packages by the Board of Environmental Review. Even though the EPA had clarity on the proposals before they were finalized and had indicated its support for Montana's approach, the agency adopted a rule that made it impossible for Montana's rules and variances from working as intended. The EPA never approved …
Sponsors
- Mercer, Bill (R, 52) · primary sponsor
- Esp, John (R, 29)
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
- : (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (S) 3rd Reading
- : (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 15, 2025): 34 yea, 16 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 14, 2025): 32 yea, 16 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 7, 2025): 69 yea, 30 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 6, 2025): 70 yea, 29 nay, passed
Subjects: Rule Making, Water, Environmental Protection, State Government
Common questions
- What is HB664?
- HB664 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Repeal numeric nutrient standards.
- What does HB664 do?
- In its own words: An act revising the nutrient criteria for montana water quality standards; removing references to numeric nutrient standards in administrative rule; repealing base numeric nutrient standards; providing directions to the department of environmental quality; providing rulemaking authority; eliminating the nutrient work group; amending section 75-5-103, mca; repealing section 75-5-321, mca; and providing an immediate effective date.
- What is the status of HB664?
- Signed into law as of May 5, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 5, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB664?
- Mercer, Bill (R, 52), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB664?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3452
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.