POLISCOPE
Back to bills
Part ofEnvironmental Protection →

The civic record

Read. Follow. Verify.
SB 221MONTANASession 2025State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Montana requires greenhouse gas assessments for fossil fuel activities under environmental reviews

Original title: Generally revise the Montana environmental policy act

Last action · May 5, 2025: Chapter Number AssignedSponsor: Wylie Galt

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

State agencies in Montana must conduct greenhouse gas assessments for proposed fossil fuel activities under the Montana Environmental Policy Act, while general environmental reviews may not evaluate greenhouse gas emissions unless required by federal law or a joint federal agency review. The legislation restricts courts from invalidating permits based on greenhouse gas reviews unless specific federal conditions are met, and it takes effect upon passage and approval.

Why it matters

The measure establishes mandatory greenhouse gas reporting parameters for fossil fuel projects while limiting state agencies from denying permits based solely on climate impacts, affecting how energy projects are reviewed and legally challenged in district courts.

Background
  • The legislation was introduced by Republican Representative Wylie Galt during the 2025 Montana legislative session. context
  • The bill responds to recent judicial interpretations of the Montana Environmental Policy Act regarding agency duties to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Project sponsors

Project proponents must coordinate with agencies on environmental reviews and may be subject to greenhouse gas assessments if undertaking fossil fuel activities.

Directly affected

State agencies

State agencies must follow revised statutory guidelines when conducting environmental reviews and developing greenhouse gas assessment guidance.

Directly affected

Fossil fuel activity operators

Operators engaged in coal, oil, or natural gas extraction or energy generation are explicitly subject to mandatory greenhouse gas assessments during environmental reviews.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a greenhouse gas assessment required for a state project?
A state agency must conduct a greenhouse gas assessment for any proposed action defined as a , and may conduct one if the agency determines it is necessary to meet environmental review requirements.
Can a state agency deny a permit based on greenhouse gas emissions?
No, an agency may not withhold, deny, or impose conditions on a permit based on alone, and greenhouse gas reviews cannot be used to vacate or delay a permit unless required by federal law or if Congress amends the Clean Air Act.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

35 actions
  1. May 5, 2025Senate
    Chapter Number Assigned
  2. May 1, 2025SenateEnrolled
    (S) Signed by Governor
  3. Apr 23, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to Governor
  4. Apr 22, 2025House
    (H) Signed by Speaker
  5. Apr 21, 2025Senate
    (S) Signed by President
  6. Apr 11, 2025Senate
    (S) Returned from Enrolling
Show 29 earlier actions
  1. Apr 10, 2025Senate
    (S) Sent to Enrolling
  2. Apr 10, 2025House
    (H) 3rd Reading
  3. Apr 10, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  4. Apr 9, 2025House
    (H) 2nd Reading
  5. Apr 9, 2025House
    (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Report
  7. Mar 26, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Committee Executive Action
  8. Mar 17, 2025House
    (H) Hearing
  9. Feb 14, 2025House
    (H) 1st Reading
  10. Feb 14, 2025HouseCommittee
    (H) Referred to Committee
  11. Feb 13, 2025Senate
    (S) Transmitted to House
  12. Feb 13, 2025Senate
    (S) 3rd Reading
  13. Feb 13, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  14. Feb 12, 2025Senate
    (S) 2nd Reading
  15. Feb 12, 2025Senate
    (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  16. Feb 11, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Report
  17. Feb 10, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Committee Executive Action
  18. Jan 28, 2025Senate
    (S) Hearing
  19. Jan 28, 2025SenateCommittee
    (S) Referred to Committee
  20. Jan 28, 2025Senate
    (S) 1st Reading
  21. Jan 27, 2025SenateIntroduced
    (S) Introduced
  22. Jan 27, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
  23. Jan 24, 2025House
    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
  24. Jan 22, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Assembly
  25. Jan 22, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  26. Jan 22, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
  27. Jan 21, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Edit
  28. Jan 18, 2025House
    (LC) Draft in Legal Review
  29. Dec 20, 2024House
    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Wylie GaltSenate · District 39RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Legislative Restructuring of MEPA Review

The bill shifts state environmental review policy by codifying specific greenhouse gas assessment triggers while explicitly limiting agencies from using MEPA to deny permits.

Montana Environmental Policy ActDepartment of Environmental Quality

Connected Entities

Wylie Galt, Montana Supreme Court, Montana Environmental Policy Act and 1 more
PersonWylie Galt“Republican sponsor of SB 221, District 39”Map →
OrganizationMontana Supreme Court“Court referenced regarding previous legal decisions on MEPA”Map →
otherMontana Environmental Policy Act“State environmental review law being revised”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Environmental Quality“State department charged with environmental oversight and guidance development”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy80
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment15
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz65
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record