[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,76,87,99],{"_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",6621361,"mediaKeyId","2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585","parentId",2802917,"title","Committee hears bill to limit public broadband bonds to unserved, underserved areas","audioSeconds",1488,"startMs",6400000,"endMs",7888000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585&start=6400&end=7888","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585/thumbnail_6400000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6621361/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-limit-public-broadband-bonds-to-unserved-underserved-areas","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621361-e1987b9f4e7e81afc00eb50741f7de17/orig.mp4?Expires=1773594370&Signature=oeXGM0SuLBqFeJF5CjwxAwp9H~bHgUI1CflDWsOGoFQqEd~9sfJiXN62LhbsvzfH2bpCK67TfcnLFb~HcsW3Df8y4f4G0JErthA05ZIVCu99HyFjoiwXoDpLl3kvDOVXiVfF~ufQVr7hCdqIBn5hnjE-DK7sS6VNXYr8WV4SH0Al2ux~D8W~Z05-IgFP51L2wqO0Wj-RfkSTy-jlJ5qQoFX0ThpSKz3VMfp4F2xAztRPCXFQZVGejTKoEzIpVgGT7hIych19KTSBt5KzKrvn7uzJnmo6piDXHcFmMFZuK3a6dmOWB51gfS0st~qPgKfgcE4uZBeL25rHiQBYmroTww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Caleb Hinkle presented House Bill 650 to the committee, saying the bill would authorize public bonding for broadband facilities but restrict the use of those bonds to unserved and underserved areas so taxpayer‑backed finance does not duplicate existing private networks. Hinkle said the measure aligns with a goal to prioritize scarce public financing for locations lacking reliable high‑speed service.

Supporters included large incumbent providers, the Montana Chamber of Commerce and taxpayer groups who argued public financing should not be used to overbuild areas already served by private industry. The Montana Taxpayers Association and Charter representatives urged using the Connect Montana definitions so federal and state grant programs coordinate and taxpayer dollars focus on first‑time connections.

Several community and not‑for‑profit broadband providers, notably Yellowstone Fiber, opposed the bill as drafted. Yellowstone Fiber described its business as a not‑for‑profit that has used industrial revenue bonds and private capital to expand fiber in Bozeman. Its chairman, Bruce Parker, told the committee the bill would effectively bar similar providers from seeking bond financing to expand into areas the bill would classify as \"served\" under the proposed standards, even where demand and higher quality service exist.

Department of Administration Director Misty Anne Giles explained the state's larger BEAD (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law / BEAD) allocation and the Connect Montana definitions; she said federal rules prioritize unserved locations and the state will follow federal standards in awarding BEAD funds. Committee members asked how HB 650 would interact with federal programs; Giles said the statute cited in the bill already aligns with federal minimum standards and that BEAD rules prohibit overbuilding federally funded locations.

During the hearing, proponents and opponents negotiated a \"friendly amendment\" to ensure satellite service and other defined low‑capacity providers are treated consistently with Connect Montana definitions; after review the sponsor said the amendment could address some opponents' concerns. The committee closed the hearing without taking a final vote that day.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Energy and Telecommunications - Mar 27, 2025 15:30 - 18:30","oneSentenceSummary","Rep. Caleb Hinkle told the Senate Energy Committee that House Bill 650 would reserve publicly backed broadband bond financing for unserved and underserved communities to avoid taxpayer‑funded overbuilding.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621366,"Lawmakers hear bill that would enable uranium fuel processing activity in Montana; opponents cite health, transport and cost concerns",2231,4169000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585&start=4169&end=6400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585/thumbnail_4169000.jpg","/articles/6621366/Montana/Lawmakers-hear-bill-that-would-enable-uranium-fuel-processing-activity-in-Montana-opponents-cite-health-transport-and-cost-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621366-4e19ab91b2e5e7bcfecf76a72da8e046/orig.mp4?Expires=1773594370&Signature=i7ADeqBcl0txB9tS3UbzRvakYCpF2mFU0eKx-epWqKT~H-HD07r51Nnphrb8tyERKF4iMC7MLcgmMOqbz447YJf2p0oNqjxY8QZdy~5TeQ0YjohUhrWBD9T5fjcenUj6E3EyNnGDgzvr4oPsn8V67KvjkhH~bTGtzgUaET3S8NNzaaF1-h-f3~oQgLe0XdR4zUmPD0DP3iJDRNs4na0Lks22qcauLyt8~lmU5kuX166nUujPMeZdFYTMxCw86WJGxO7Pl5lOmCwTGMH26~QIL-rluBskWKNqFkIhY0xha1g0raaoHysb3iQgXQJyL-CtMgnW4sUokja2b3AXRCdQ9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Gary Perry presented House Bill 696 as a follow‑up measure to HB 623, describing it as a framework for Montana to consider enrichment, fuel processing and related industrial activity. Perry said the goal is to reduce reliance on foreign sources of critical nuclear materials and suggested Montana might serve as a regional processing hub. \"We have got to turn this around,\" Perry said, adding geopolitical and supply chain concerns about imports from Russia and China.

Supporters repeated arguments made in earlier nuclear hearings: David Herbst of American Powerplay said opening the door to fuel processing aligns with a broader vision of Montana as a net energy exporter; proponents emphasized potential jobs and domestic supply chains. Opponents included the same mix of environmental, public‑health and tribal voices that spoke on HB 623. Nick Fitzmaurice of the Montana Environmental Information Center warned that transport and processing of uranium and enriched materials would increase public safety risks on Montana roads and rails and noted the state would inherit hazardous waste streams associated with enrichment operations.

Witnesses described historical examples of high cost overruns and contamination problems at U.S. nuclear projects and enrichment sites. Testifiers noted that depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) stockpiles at Ohio and Kentucky have generated long‑running cleanup liabilities; one witness quoted an estimated cleanup cost in the billions for existing DUF6 sites. Health care and biologist witnesses described potential long‑term population health risks associated with radioactivity if storage or processing were mishandled.

Committee members asked about the role of state agencies and about consent and outreach to tribal governments. Perry said the bill is intended to create a pathway but not to mandate immediate construction; he stated timelines for any such projects would likely be measured in years and reiterated his view that federal regulators (NRC) and DEQ would be involved in oversight. The committee closed the hearing without taking a committee vote on HB 696.","House Bill 696 would authorize state steps toward hosting uranium processing and fuel production; sponsor framed the measure as improving supply‑chain security, while opponents warned of public‑health risks, depleted‑uranium waste streams and long‑term contamination concerns.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621370,"Committee hears 'Smooth Move' bill to speed utility relocations on Montana highway projects",997,3115000,4112000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585&start=3115&end=4112","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585/thumbnail_3115000.jpg","/articles/6621370/Montana/Committee-hears-Smooth-Move-bill-to-speed-utility-relocations-on-Montana-highway-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621370-9a8651a43b077922d128966822f1c47c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773594370&Signature=Gw3fjO~yIQMwz9DdTcq9b6vltkUkJIHv0rc6gOrfTIbgDV2RalXtpwkOphDA68VVSRYsmNZN~hTNwp9T3Ky4iUg324fxZZ~uzQuRPGVn7N-uLDj57x9G3qCAd4x7P3LGDyfUo4~Du9TxKmpuzL7dYpNxW51JZI2~8Y2i-8bzv82Jee5NdmMlDO2ABw2f1V4NxeomEVVSsP0FVeZ8qkEy2zh~qmpecIeSDOiVN0CynOPok~pwgZDsdAZOzFtoH4DgMK0gbqJy99r4pQXGMu9~VO0yeeJp5lXQ~c~flqJrDMiyjDEB54mha~OyleLowDphxepOTp-OCUtwIo0yjWJQjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Courtney Sprunger introduced House Bill 672, the \"Smooth Move\" program, to the Senate Energy Committee as a collaborative, stakeholder‑driven effort to reduce delays caused by late utility relocations during road construction. \"This bill does three things,\" Sprunger told the committee: require preliminary notice to utilities, allow the Department of Transportation to adopt rules that clarify timelines and expectations, and permit MDT to reduce reimbursement gradually if relocations are not completed in a reasonable timeframe.

Chris Dorrington, Director of the Montana Department of Transportation, and representatives from utilities and contractors described months of stakeholder meetings that led to the draft. Dorrington said the current process lacks clarity and sometimes resembles \"a Ponzi scheme\" in finding who is responsible for what; HB 672, he said, sets a consistent statewide process. Alan Olson of Northwestern Energy, Bridger Mahlum of Broadband Montana and other utility and cooperative witnesses expressed support and committed to participating in rulemaking.

Contractors urged the committee to move quickly. Knife River and private contractors described persistent coordination problems and welcomed the collaborative rulemaking the bill proposes. CenturyLink / Lumen and Montana electric cooperatives likewise told the panel that improved communication, consistent notice and a structured rule process should reduce costly delays.

Sponsor Sprunger emphasized the bill does not put all details into statute but instead empowers a working group and rulemaking so stakeholders can define notice periods, timelines and exceptions. The sponsor and MDOT representatives said the bill aims to protect taxpayer dollars by allowing the department to move forward when utility delays become excessive while providing fairness to utilities that act in good faith.

Committee members posed no substantive questions during testimony; after hearings concluded, the committee voted to report concurrence on HB 672 to the next stage, recording a unanimous voice vote later in the meeting.","House Bill 672 would create a rulemaking process, notice requirements and phased reimbursement adjustments to reduce delays when utilities must relocate facilities for Montana Department of Transportation projects. Sponsors and a wide set of utilities, contractors and local providers supported the collaborative bill.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6621375,"Montana committee hears bill that would let state accept, reprocess its own spent nuclear fuel",2598,422000,3020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585&start=422&end=3020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2802917-eea8c11e55d60b9c79bbe1f30c1c2585/thumbnail_422000.jpg","/articles/6621375/Montana/Montana-committee-hears-bill-that-would-let-state-accept-reprocess-its-own-spent-nuclear-fuel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6621375-64e138c18b4a319b737d265458c29b77/orig.mp4?Expires=1773594370&Signature=c4aL-gG9ZfmK059jKUYESRi0cWXTRjJcRTAI9KW~HN7UCTi4T~-UVE977TphcSFno6LV7ifZVtc1Jd4M6NoIy5voMz7qxbXF2xENwYLNsb0iI3t9mY4Ck6VWTGmi8ftGycXKnJxJIBB0UiWnjOqIbPMSv2CFW3FVHAe~KFHdDw~BqoKE~SxLuOzIk~mvqRXfnnQI9kyF-IVd5R9S0teiSYOvZpayzx2et6CRrltCp~SPclbSfKYatkDSiT6gCNNVz18AxoXVqoc9YXP6rbAouAnC~~RT4uaEz5NFKs8DOi7LZkq0bjcyVPtEE~wvu4DFBe0~89dnE-60FFa8KfPeVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Gary Perry opened the Senate Energy Committee hearing on House Bill 623 by saying Montana faces an energy shortfall and that the bill would let the state accept and reprocess its own spent nuclear fuel. \"It's clearly recognized that Montana is in a very serious energy crisis. We're currently projecting a short shortfall of 7,500 megawatts over the next 6 to 10 years,\" Perry told the committee, framing the measure as a step to keep options open for baseload generation.

The bill, as described by Perry, would not authorize taking spent fuel from other states or nations but would allow Montana to develop storage and reprocessing capacity for fuel linked to in-state generation. \"All this bill is doing is saying to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, we are prepared to handle our own nuclear waste,\" Perry said, adding the proposal includes language to allow recycling and reprocessing similar to methods used in France.

Proponents who testified urged the committee to remove perceived statutory barriers and to preserve options for future small modular reactor projects. David Herbst of American Powerplay said the measure \"lays the groundwork to make it happen\" and argued Montana could become a reliable exporter of base‑load power. Alan Olson of Northwestern Energy said his company applauded the sponsor’s amendments to remove a house amendment and said nuclear remains expensive but could be part of long‑term planning. Labor and trades representatives — including Adam Haigt (Labor Local 1686), Al Ekblad (Operating Engineers Local 400) and Dwayne Wock (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 233) — testified in support, citing potential jobs and smaller footprints for newer reactor designs.

Opponents sharply questioned the economics, schedule and community impacts. Nick Fitzmaurice of the Montana Environmental Information Center said the United States has no permanent commercial repository and warned that storage decisions could saddle Montana with long‑term risks. \"There is no permanent storage solution for nuclear waste in the United States,\" Fitzmaurice told the committee and urged retaining a house amendment that would require consultation with nearby tribal communities. He also contested the 7,500 megawatt shortfall figure offered by the sponsor, saying he had not seen that projection.

Other witnesses, including Jennifer Swearingen, Perry Gleesman and Derek Goldman of the Northwest Energy Coalition, cited high construction costs and historic cost overruns on recent U.S. nuclear projects. Several witnesses urged caution and said emerging small modular reactor projects have repeatedly faced delays and ballooning price estimates.

Committee members asked the sponsor and state agencies about roles and timelines. Perry said the bill is intended to open options that could take many years to materialize. Rebecca Harbage of the Department of Environmental Quality (testifying on a later bill but referenced during questioning) explained DEQ’s role relative to federal review would be to receive federal applications and provide state recommendations as part of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s process.

The hearing closed with the sponsor thanking members; the committee took no final vote on HB 623 during this session.","Lawmakers and witnesses debated House Bill 623 on whether Montana should authorize handling and reprocessing of the state’s own spent nuclear fuel; proponents urged removing regulatory barriers to future nuclear development, while opponents warned of high costs, long timelines and health and tribal-consent concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to limit public broadband bonds to unserved, underserved areas

Lawmakers hear bill that would enable uranium fuel processing activity in Montana; opponents cite health, transport and cost concerns

Committee hears 'Smooth Move' bill to speed utility relocations on Montana highway projects

Montana committee hears bill that would let state accept, reprocess its own spent nuclear fuel