Normally, we try to trim down the list of actions we ask you to take each week so that we all can target our energy towards the most critical bills affecting Montana’s environment.
But this week, as we approach the halfway point of the session, there are just too many bad bills coming up, and so instead we’ve provided a list of the worst of the worst.
This is the one week all session that matters the most. All of the bills have to pass out of their committee by the end of the week, and then pass the House or Senate by March 3. Please take action today on as many of these bills as you can stomach – Montana’s environmental protections depend on folks like you!
We’ve listed these bills according to when they will be heard in committee this week:
Monday, February 22
SB 284: Allow Gravel Pits to Destroy Critical Sage Grouse Habitat Without Mitigation – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing TODAY, Feb. 22 in the Senate Natural Resources. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
SB 294: Making Zoning More Difficult – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing TODAY, Feb. 22 in the Senate Local Government Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
SB 324: Adding Selenium Pollution to Our Water – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing TODAY, Feb. 22 in the Senate Natural Resources. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
HB 475: Eliminate Montana’s Renewable Energy Standard – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing TODAY, Feb. 22 in the House Energy Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
HB 188: Dramatically Increase Registration Fees on Electric Vehicles – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing TODAY, Feb. 22 in the House Appropriations Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
Tuesday, February 23
SB 260: Undermining State Regulation by Expanding Regulatory Takings Law – OPPOSE
- Action: The bill has a hearing on Feb. 23 at 9 am in Senate Business & Labor. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
SB 265: Force Colstrip Arbitration to Occur in Montana Courts – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing on Tues., Feb. 23 in the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
SB 266: Force Colstrip Owners to Pay for Plant Operation as Long as NWE Wants – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing on Tues., Feb. 23 in the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
HB 395: Eliminate Zoning that Occurred During CORONAVIRUS – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing on Tues., Feb. 23 in the House Local Government Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill.
Wednesday, February 24
HB 481: Attacking Freedom of Speech and Right to Associate – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing on Wed., Feb. 24 in the House Judiciary Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill. You may also sign up to testify remotely by Tues., Feb. 23 at noon.
SB 257: Prohibit Local Governments from Addressing Climate Change – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing scheduled for Wed. Feb 24 in the Senate Local Government Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill. You may also sign up to testify remotely by Tues., Feb. 23 at noon.
HB 518: Increasing Floodplain Development – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing scheduled for Wed. Feb 24 in the House Natural Resources Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill. You may also sign up to testify remotely by Tues., Feb. 23 at noon.
HB 498: Oil and Gas Interests Trump Local Communities – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing scheduled for Wed. Feb 24 in the House Natural Resources Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill. You may also sign up to testify remotely by Tues., Feb. 23 at noon.
Thursday, February 25
HB 470: Making it More Difficult for Counties to Zone – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing scheduled for Thurs. Feb 25 in the House Local Government Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill. You may also sign up to testify remotely by Wed., Feb. 24 at noon.
Don’t forget: You can also join us on Thursday at 5 PM for a rundown of the bills and the answers to your questions. You can join using your computer or phone.
Friday, February 26
HB 419: Empowers a Small Committee to Veto Superfund Cleanup Requirements and Costs – OPPOSE
- Action: There’s a hearing scheduled for Fri., Feb. 26 in the House Natural Resources Committee. Email them or call (406) 444-4800 and urge a No vote on this bill. You may also sign up to testify remotely by Thurs., Feb. 25 at noon.
