[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6304972,"mediaKeyId","2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9","parentId",2452791,"title","Montana bill would let MDT reduce utility relocation reimbursements after repeated noncompliance and set rulemaking process","audioSeconds",2293,"startMs",1017000,"endMs",3310000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9&start=1017&end=3310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9/thumbnail_1017000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6304972/Montana/Montana-bill-would-let-MDT-reduce-utility-relocation-reimbursements-after-repeated-noncompliance-and-set-rulemaking-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304972-2ca2e580b373f7191d1acda4ab70f0ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1775347698&Signature=WeGbEb2lreW4XiyUNOxddA0zIIXNiHxG1rXksbDbRaRv8oIdS0LlrJ9aUKT4uOCuplViTsoukisOnvRqzOpyYzRzg9QcJljeawcDEEOnew5StSi~sTd6VfBmmaquCXudaJWD9KPYA2CbjX38IPmQGEs1BtDH5T0sMLyHZ9C8Tb6OV9PS5mX7DsNIev8HNCeQxg7P6MyK9FyW--0s~Tc3Xuz6ImbJPohCXYGeETjiMCj-b3nDQyUY~EPPB~KMX8kJeeUjFgFnKMdQun1ARhJjkINc5FQnoOz78nDlAWnsAW-Hm3P0IvP4fnC21-xBuhxmjL6YRi5xReETaQhX04ZOfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-28T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Courtney Sprunger introduced House Bill 672 on the House Transportation Committee floor as a measure aimed at shortening delays on highway construction projects caused by slow or uncertain utility relocations. The bill would preserve the state’s existing relocation reimbursement program (currently capped at 75% of a utility’s costs) while adding authority for the Montana Department of Transportation to reduce that reimbursement — incrementally down to zero — if a utility repeatedly fails to relocate facilities after notice.

The bill sponsor told the committee the proposal grew out of “very personally lived experience” on a project that sat idle for six weeks while a utility failed to relocate on a predictable schedule. Sprunger said the bill is intended to “defend the taxpayer” by limiting delays that push projects into another construction season.

Proponents including Montana Department of Transportation Director Chris Dorrington, contractors and utilities said the bill is the product of weeks of stakeholder discussions and stressed that most relocations proceed cooperatively. “This bill … moves accountabilities to the right place,” Director Dorrington said, urging the committee to pass the measure so the department can impose a consequence scale for ongoing noncompliance while the parties continue to finalize details through rulemaking.

The bill directs MDT to convene a stakeholder group of contractors, utilities and other partners to flesh out procedures and exceptions for the new enforcement mechanics. Witnesses said rulemaking will cover realistic timelines, material lead times, mapping and depth verification to reduce safety risks from mislocated facilities, and standard communications milestones: sponsors described a plan-in-hand milestone at roughly 90% design and an intent to give utilities as much as a year’s notice on some larger projects.

Utilities raised a separate legal concern that emerged during drafting: a proposed indemnity/hold‑harmless structure. CenturyLink/Lumen’s counsel said the industry sought a negligence standard for claims arising from relocations, while MDT sought a gross‑negligence or willful‑misconduct threshold for situations where MDT hires a contractor to relocate a utility after repeated notices. Representatives of telecom and electric cooperatives said they would participate in the rulemaking and urged the committee to advance the bill.

The sponsor included an effective date provision in the draft that would make most new authorities effective Jan. 1, 2026, to allow time for rulemaking. At the committee’s executive action, members voted to advance the bill to the House floor for second reading.

Ending: Committee members pressed sponsors and agency staff on the legal standard in the bill’s liability section and on operational details that the stakeholders will be asked to refine in rulemaking. Sponsors and utility representatives said the stakeholder process is central to ironing out timelines, exceptions (for supply or weather delays) and definitions of contractor competency before MDT would exercise the power to hire a third party and reduce reimbursements. The bill passed the committee and will proceed to the House second reading.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation Feb 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Courtney Sprunger introduced House Bill 672 to let the Montana Department of Transportation reduce relocation reimbursements for utilities that repeatedly fail to relocate facilities after notice and to require MDT-led rulemaking with contractors and utilities to set timelines and exceptions.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304953,"Committee approves change letting visiting light aircraft park briefly without charge at public airports",762,9586000,10348000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9&start=9586&end=10348","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9/thumbnail_9586000.jpg","/articles/6304953/Montana/Committee-approves-change-letting-visiting-light-aircraft-park-briefly-without-charge-at-public-airports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304953-66b76b83c62f378a89ae81b17d6b1e54/orig.mp4?Expires=1775347698&Signature=hV5f2-zdElqsE0Rwyc6O58kNjYpJIDBf38Xx4299rxb6Rh7qQ8KV4ujZ-X6Ce7b8ntdMuVb7lZxZ86owXlJj9NYWVH1AB13Q49ccwToeSXVZkK~RbEfarayfW2Sc667VyM0hqmobBesnVayrFtNvB0rvPfEqH9oigtBN~9tK8Xg7edTXwlCP3EOqGoqyXONnH7X2puWXtN7H1YsQBPcT0IpvXOhBy~~ZL~I9qE5lrM5u10qLYFVEBQcrNAd3Hr6IcCwXgxssekpGAwxQctjARVzGTBOK8nQ~yyIb6r9CQseSCu2gXz4csrB5NTlw2t9gh6XmM1YqTAN25z4km0JPMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Clacken brought House Bill 731 to the committee to permit a visiting light aircraft to park with tie‑downs at a public airport for a short stay without being charged. The sponsor framed the change as a convenience for transient pilots needing a short stop for restroom use, refueling, or brief local errands, and emphasized the bill does not authorize overnight parking.

Airport stakeholders and committee members raised operational questions: airports frequently are public entities that fund operations with fees for services and parking, and some larger airports have limited tie‑down capacity that is in high demand. Committee members expressed concern about unintended consequences at busier facilities such as Bozeman and the need to preserve airport authority over ramp and FBO operations.

During committee mark-up members adopted an amendment that reduced the free tie‑down period in the draft from 10 hours to one hour, and then approved that conceptual change on the floor. The sponsor said many smaller airports already do not charge for very short stops and that the one‑hour window would be limited to convenience stops, not extended staging or overnight tie‑downs.

Ending: After the change to a one‑hour allowance the committee voted to advance the twice‑amended bill to the House floor.","House Bill 731, amended in committee, would allow a visiting light aircraft to tie down at a public airport for a short, limited period without being charged; committee reduced the bill’s permissive free period from a proposed 10 hours to one hour during markup.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304958,"House panel advances law to require drivers and oncoming vehicles to slow for agricultural equipment and to allow implements to pull off when safe",1017,6276000,7293000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9&start=6276&end=7293","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9/thumbnail_6276000.jpg","/articles/6304958/Montana/House-panel-advances-law-to-require-drivers-and-oncoming-vehicles-to-slow-for-agricultural-equipment-and-to-allow-implements-to-pull-off-when-safe","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304958-19e43e2813a6267455617da1a036ae96/orig.mp4?Expires=1775347698&Signature=BsaSQJpBYn-Plj6cd8BU2JxzOYWk3p92vajPYmfUcDNBrA6TvmAMRa4zgIsNzrPzsPkHs0LudCmQcCi2WAihkMA~~VeNgpj9MPWr0Hs8hkmI40KjPstHat3RrBcsXMcMKGt7q2M7d9SoRPnHFZ7i9T~V3VuQSWmo6X917YQLA-ZEyVemxVlCLg3gUwhbhbx73S9j-8efgAiNTICD383AbyG5nDtWAJDFNVvVNGtdAkbrzjz6qpsFvo9opa4KOaL5MuICpPASJ8tFxuKSwvoweDcI3Jp6zxRQQkqoBu36KXebLpT4AT4MKJe6EF~WvaShH7y~X596-nGyCf-2n4Jcyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Ed Byrne introduced House Bill 739 to require motorists to exercise greater caution around agricultural vehicles on Montana public roads. The draft requires a motor vehicle approaching an agricultural vehicle to slow to the agricultural vehicle’s speed and to pass only where passing is permitted and it is safe to do so. When an agricultural vehicle is obstructing traffic, the bill would require the agricultural vehicle to pull over when it is safe to do so to allow trailing vehicles to pass. For oncoming vehicles, the bill directs drivers to reduce speed to half the posted limit when approaching a farm implement being passed in the opposite direction.

Sponsor testimony and witnesses emphasized the bill addresses safety on rural highways where large implements operate at far slower speeds than surrounding traffic. The sponsor said the measure clarifies existing code and supplements current slow‑moving‑vehicle rules; he and witnesses cited existing MCA sections that require slow‑moving warning signs and lamps on equipment. Law enforcement and members of the committee asked technical questions about definitions and speed differentials; the sponsor and counsel said the bill uses existing statutory references for motor vehicles and highways and adds clarifying definitions to reduce ambiguity.

Ending: After a conceptual cleanup amendment and technical edits, the committee voted to advance the amended bill to the House floor for second reading.","Rep. Edward Byrne’s bill would require vehicles approaching agricultural equipment to reduce speed to the slower vehicle’s pace, require oncoming drivers to reduce speed when passing is necessary, and direct farm equipment to pull off into designated pullouts when safe to allow traffic to pass.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304962,"'Noah’s Act' hearing spotlights school safety case and debate over delegating project approvals to MPOs",6006,4438000,10444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9&start=4438&end=10444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9/thumbnail_4438000.jpg","/articles/6304962/Montana/Noahs-Act-hearing-spotlights-school-safety-case-and-debate-over-delegating-project-approvals-to-MPOs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304962-ef272d36b8a02fe7aa8c379181763e5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775347698&Signature=hnnOtL49XE8NlyrnjhrW-6r~4tY197vH2BdTZb7VjtVMKj0S0lHHI4xyigUir2L5gCF8GUyc583hUxwgozkCwl-b3u4NNAG79nzFMqw5N0xhzL-yF5t9ET7kAKkuTrGJVI8BR5-yQ9N07mRv7BDZaYRFf9tUbVz~sGSSb5d5sBvQFs6z5-lRVoCAVg0ABHIEHYJqSAVUp-jbkWmQmRwLurelqeoviSA~8AgS4XIGesUfpE5h6mrSx554MDs0YLnuy7cMDjSRZpNINe1Z7aiky2kGYw-kb5YM~COw9P9rc3qu7BWhG4GIttJYk6CUozR1f7CQ2tZXhGMgNmgXyYXKzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Bob Carter presented House Bill 773 — described in his testimony as “Noah’s Act” — to streamline transportation planning approval for metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and to reduce duplicative reviews while preserving federal and state safety standards.

The hearing featured emotional testimony from a Missoula family after their son Noah was struck in a crosswalk near his school. Noah and his mother described the collision, medical response and a frustrated community process that, they said, left local safety improvements delayed by intergovernmental review. Noah’s mother said the neighborhood had requested relatively modest safety measures (for example, a flashing sign at a crosswalk) but met prolonged administrative obstacles.

Missoula public works director Jeremy Keane and other local officials also testified in support of streamlining local decision-making for non‑operational safety improvements and crosswalk enhancements, while asking for clarifying amendments to ensure local‑agency input.

Montana Department of Transportation Director Chris Dorrington rose in respectful opposition, telling the committee he supports better local coordination and faster delivery of safety projects but that the bill as drafted would conflict with federally delegated responsibilities that rest with the state DOT for the National Highway System and could improperly reassign statutory authority to MPOs.

MDT technical staff and urban planning oversight staff testified as informational witnesses and described the federal framework for MPOs (Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, Helena, and Bozeman/Belgrade are the state’s five MPOs) and how federal funds and oversight factor into project selection and delivery.

Ending: After questions and discussion the sponsor acknowledged drafting and communication missteps and asked the committee’s patience; the committee later moved to table HB 773 during executive action.","Representative Bob Carter’s House Bill 773 would reduce duplicative reviews of metropolitan transportation plans by allowing more decisions at the district level when MPO plans are compliant; committee heard emotional testimony from a child hit in a crosswalk and formal opposition from MDT and local public works.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6304967,"Committee advances bill to extend CDL skills‑test waivers to part‑time reservists and National Guard members",991,3292000,4283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9&start=3292&end=4283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2452791-42c2d3bd394aaa4c3d2a4c5bbae490d9/thumbnail_3292000.jpg","/articles/6304967/Montana/Committee-advances-bill-to-extend-CDL-skillstest-waivers-to-parttime-reservists-and-National-Guard-members","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304967-e2bdc60f57b54841647e6b5f95275a7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775347698&Signature=U-4RtzzwmGqIEQqTPzYcf7Kz3bw65ltVQTDCIeT44wLOUKphGVj6sn92hYMm7AT7fMygYU6nM672SJU-sqrQF7Q-02h6hHfvzmZw4rMxctJtqzNcJLI3sZ3yK8RRX-ddyEI61QocM4Kn20YlHGUPViHs0tQgUeIhbeyr-1jCRUX8tBP4UkFC5OzS17sKHRo06Z9sWaQrI-qaPhkY-SXPbOgXKMSpDQtc5kxQHyJWBRv7S4QnbBUskWiNmPhscoWLFIM5Z-paSM-K0DECgvnzNy896rHAl6cAOdFkDvt2MniXU~FzFNZWXGN1TVn9weu4a-WyXdEd18FZ9-Lxx8Z0sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative George Nicola (introduced as \"George Nicola Caucus\" in the hearing record) presented House Bill 708 to extend Montana’s existing waiver authority for CDL tests to part‑time reservists and National Guard members. The sponsor said training and qualifications for military motor transport operators are equivalent across active duty, guard and reserve components and that the bill would reduce needless testing burdens and speed licensure for service members.

Brig. Gen. Reneé Dorval, deputy director of the Department of Military Affairs, testified in support and outlined the training for a motor transport operator (MOS 88M) — including weeks of advanced individual training and hundreds of hours in vehicles — and said the training is the same for active, guard and reserve soldiers. Motor Vehicle Division and Motor Carrier Services enforcement staff also testified in favor, saying the bill aligns state law with federal regulations that do not distinguish between full‑time and part‑time reservists for the waiver.

The committee asked clarifying questions about statutory language and the definition of “reserve component.” Witnesses and staff cited existing code definitions that treat the Montana National Guard and the U.S. armed forces’ reserves as reserve components, and the sponsor signaled willingness to strike the phrase “full time” from a discharge requirement noted in the draft language. The bill attracted no organized opposition at the hearing.

Ending: Committee members voted to advance House Bill 708 to the House floor for second reading.","House Bill 708 would expand Montana’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills‑test waiver authority to include part‑time reservists and National Guard members so their military training can qualify them for state waivers comparable to full‑time military members.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Montana bill would let MDT reduce utility relocation reimbursements after repeated noncompliance and set rulemaking process

Committee approves change letting visiting light aircraft park briefly without charge at public airports

House panel advances law to require drivers and oncoming vehicles to slow for agricultural equipment and to allow implements to pull off when safe

'Noah’s Act' hearing spotlights school safety case and debate over delegating project approvals to MPOs

Committee advances bill to extend CDL skills‑test waivers to part‑time reservists and National Guard members