Part ofEnergy →

The civic record

Read. Follow. Verify.

SB 355MONTANASession 2025State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Montana requires competitive bidding for electric transmission lines valued at $8 million or more

Original title: Generally revise energy laws

Last action · May 8, 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

Montana law now permits a competitive bidding process for constructing new s valued at $8 million or more while preserving incumbent utilities' ownership and maintenance rights. Incumbent utilities must notify the of their intent within 120 days of project approval and conduct the bidding process according to established timelines and standards.

Why it matters

Changes the construction procurement rules for major regional energy infrastructure, allowing outside entities to bid on projects costing $8 million or more while incumbent utilities retain final ownership and ongoing maintenance responsibilities.

Background

SB 355 modifies Montana utility statutes governing electric transmission line rights and definitions. 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

Incumbent electric utilities

Incumbent electric utilities must conduct competitive bidding for projects valued at $8 million or more, provide project notices within 120 days, and assume ownership and maintenance upon completion.

Directly affected

Transmission line contractors

Contractors and outside entities are permitted to bid on the construction of new electric transmission line projects valued at $8 million or more.

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

Who is responsible for maintaining the transmission line after construction?

Upon completion of construction, the has the right to own and must assume maintenance responsibility for the .

What is the financial threshold that triggers the competitive bidding requirement?

A competitive bidding process must be conducted for any new project that has a valuation of $8 million or more.

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

39 actions

May 8, 2025Senate
Chapter Number Assigned
May 5, 2025SenateEnrolled
(S) Signed by Governor
Apr 25, 2025Senate
(S) Transmitted to Governor
Apr 25, 2025House
(H) Signed by Speaker
Apr 21, 2025Senate
(S) Signed by President
Apr 12, 2025Senate
(S) Returned from Enrolling

Show 33 earlier actions

Apr 11, 2025Senate
(S) Sent to Enrolling
Apr 11, 2025House
(H) 3rd Reading
Apr 11, 2025House
(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Apr 10, 2025House
(H) 2nd Reading
Apr 10, 2025House
(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Mar 29, 2025HouseCommittee
(H) Committee Report
Mar 28, 2025HouseCommittee
(H) Committee Executive Action
Mar 24, 2025House
(H) Hearing
Mar 24, 2025House
(H) Hearing Canceled
Mar 20, 2025House
(H) Hearing
Mar 6, 2025House
(H) 1st Reading
Mar 5, 2025HouseCommittee
(H) Referred to Committee
Mar 4, 2025Senate
(S) Transmitted to House
Mar 4, 2025Senate
(S) 3rd Reading
Mar 4, 2025Senate
(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
Mar 3, 2025Senate
(S) 2nd Reading
Mar 3, 2025Senate
(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
Feb 28, 2025SenateCommittee
(S) Committee Report
Feb 27, 2025SenateCommittee
(S) Committee Executive Action
Feb 25, 2025Senate
(S) Hearing
Feb 21, 2025SenateCommittee
(S) Referred to Committee
Feb 19, 2025Senate
(S) 1st Reading
Feb 18, 2025SenateIntroduced
(S) Introduced
Feb 18, 2025House
(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
Feb 18, 2025House
(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
Feb 17, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Assembly
Feb 17, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
Feb 17, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
Feb 10, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Edit
Feb 8, 2025House
(LC) Draft in Legal Review
Feb 6, 2025House
(LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
Sep 27, 2024House
(LC) Draft On Hold
Sep 27, 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.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift98% confidence

Introduction of Competitive Bidding for Transmission

Shifts utility law from exclusive incumbent rights to a required competitive bidding model for transmission projects meeting or exceeding an $8 million valuation.

Connected Entities

Public Service Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

OrganizationPublic Service Commission“State commission regulating public utilities.”Map →

OrganizationFederal Energy Regulatory Commission“Federal agency registering regional transmission organizations.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

bills.legmt.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools