Montana proposes creating a passenger ropeway safety board and registration system for ski lifts

Senate Bill 556 creates a seven-member Board of Passenger Ropeway Safety appointed by the governor to oversee ski lifts, aerial tramways, and surface tows in Montana. The bill requires all passenger ropeways to be registered annually, establishes safety rules and inspection procedures, and funds board operations through registration fees and a gross receipts assessment on ski facilities.

Ski area operators must register lifts annually, pay per-device fees up to $300, and remit a gross receipts assessment up to 0.25%, while gaining a state oversight body that provides standardized safety rules and governmental immunity protections for board members.