The 2025 Legislative Session is more than halfway through and a number of troubling bills that threaten clean water, water availability, and local government control are sadly gaining traction.
Here’s a summary of remaining bills that we oppose, and information on how you can raise your voice and speak out against weakening environmental protections for our waterways, citizen involvement, and local control.
Exempt Well Bills:
There are several attempts to expand the use of exempt wells in the majority of the state to the detriment of senior water rights, private property rights, local agriculture, wildlife, and our water resources — all to the benefit of developers. These bills would allow the use of exempt wells in closed basins where water is already over allocated, and incentivize more unmanaged development in rural areas away from central services.Read more on the detrimental effects of exempt wells from senior water rights holders, a local rancher, and a local water expert.
Pollution:
Ever since Montana adopted protective, science-based numeric nutrient criteria to protect our waterways from nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, there have been attempts to revert to weak, arbitrary narrative standards that fail to protect our waterways from nutrient pollution. These bills, supported by oil, gas, and mining industries, and municipalities, make it easier for polluters to pollute without doing their fair share to protect water quality. This is a fight Waterkeeper has been involved in for over a decade, and we’ll continue to stand up against any efforts to repeal our strong, science-based water quality protections for the benefit of polluters.
Local Control & Government:
There are several bills aimed at weakening local government control, allowing subdivision by “for rent or lease,” limiting land conservation, and restricting local and neighborhood authority to have a say in nearby new developments, regardless of covenants or zoning.
Some Silver Linings:
While many of the bills we’re tracking are doom and gloom, there are a few good water bills that we wanted to highlight, as well.
Take Action!
- Visit this website to submit comments to legislators and committees, register to testify, and more: https://participate.legmt.gov/
- Users must create an account with a verified email and Montana address to take the following actions
- Send a message (to legislators or a committee)
- Testify remotely (you must register 2 hours before a hearing. You will receive a Zoom link in your email to participate in the hearing).
- Leave a voicemail for legislators between 7:30am and 5pm at 406-444-4800
If you send comments to legislators or committees, please let us know and consider sharing your comments with us. Thank you!