Montana HB886: Provide for water division court, judges

What the bill says

A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing for the a water division court and water division judges; revising the jurisdiction of the water division court; providing the governor appoint members to the water division court; providing for nominations, vacancy replacements, terms, and substitutions of water division judges; providing a definition; providing for enforcement of water rights at the water district court; providing for water division court supervision of water distribution; clarifying complaints by dissatisfied water users; clarifying procedures…

From the engrossed text:

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE A WATER DIVISION COURT AND WATER DIVISION JUDGES; REVISING THE JURISDICTION OF THE WATER DIVISION COURT; PROVIDING THE GOVERNOR APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE WATER DIVISION COURT; PROVIDING FOR NOMINATIONS, VACANCY REPLACEMENTS, TERMS, AND SUBSTITUTIONS OF WATER DIVISION JUDGES; PROVIDING A DEFINITION; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF WATER RIGHTS AT THE WATER DISTRICT COURT; PROVIDING FOR WATER DIVISION COURT SUPERVISION OF WATER DISTRIBUTION; CLARIFYING COMPLAINTS BY DISSATISFIED WATER USERS; CLARIFYING PROCEDURES; REVISING LAWS RELATED TO WATER COMMISSIONERS AND WATER MEDIATORS; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-4702, 3-1-102, 3-1-901, 3-1-904, 3-1-905, 3-1-907, 3-7-101, 3-7-103, 3-7-202, 3-7-203, 3-7-204, 3-7-221, 3-7301, 3-7-311, 3-7-401, 3-7-402, 3-7-403, 3-7-404, 3-7-501, 3-7-502, 19-5-101, 19-5-301, 85-2-102, 85-2-112, 85-2-114, 85-2-122, 85-2-123, 85-2-125, 85-2-309, 85-2-405, 85-2-406, 85-5-101, 85-5-102, 85-5-103, 85-5106, 85-5-107, 85-5-109, 85-5-110, 85-5-111, 85-5-201, 85-5-203, 85-5-204, 85-5-301, 85-5-401, 85-5-402, 855-403, 85-5-407, AND 85-5-408, MCA; REPEALING SECTIONS 3-7-201, 3-7-211, 3-7-212, 3-7-222, 3-7-223, 3-7-224, AND 3-7-225, MCA; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: Section 1. Section 2-4-702, MCA, is amended to read: " 2-4-702. (Temporary) Initiating judicial review of contested cases. (1) (a) Except as provided in 75-2-213 and 75-20-223, a person who has exhausted all administrative remedies available within the agency and who is aggrieved by a final written decision in a contested …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Walsh, Ken (R, 69) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. May 20, 2025: (H) Died in Process
2. April 7, 2025: (H) Missed Deadline for Revenue Bill Transmittal
3. April 3, 2025: (H) 2nd Reading
4. April 3, 2025: (H) 2nd Reading Motion to Amend
5. April 3, 2025: (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
6. April 1, 2025: (H) Take from Committee; Place on 2nd Reading
7. April 1, 2025: (H) Fiscal Note Printed
8. March 31, 2025: (H) Tabled in Committee
9. March 31, 2025: (H) Fiscal Note Signed
10. March 31, 2025: (H) Hearing

Votes

• Do Pass As Amended (April 3, 2025): 50 yea, 49 nay, passed
• AMD-HB0886.001.002 Walsh DO PASS (April 3, 2025): 72 yea, 27 nay, passed
• Take from NAH to Second Reading (April 1, 2025): 59 yea, 39 nay, passed
• Take HB 886 from JUH to NAH (March 28, 2025): 64 yea, 35 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB886?

HB886 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Provide for water division court, judges.

What does HB886 do?

In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act providing for the a water division court and water division judges; revising the jurisdiction of the water division court; providing the governor appoint members to the water division court; providing for nominations, vacancy replacements, terms, and substitutions of water division judges; providing a definition; providing for enforcement of water rights at the water district court; providing for water division court supervision of water distribution; clarifying complaints by dissatisfied water users; clarifying procedures…

What is the status of HB886?

Failed as of May 20, 2025. Latest action: (H) Died in Process (May 20, 2025).

Who sponsored HB886?

Walsh, Ken (R, 69).

Where is the official record for HB886?

On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1454