Committee tables bill that would make conservation‑district placement on county planning boards optional

Representative Steve Kelly introduced House Bill 7 82 to the House Local Government Committee, saying the bill is a “cleanup” requested by county commissioners to allow county governments discretion to appoint a conservation district representative to county planning boards rather than require one by law.

The sponsor told the committee the change swaps the word must to may so conservation district membership on planning boards would be optional. He and several county officials said the optional language would let counties ensure a full planning board membership and treat conservation districts the same as other agencies that receive notice and comment during land‑use review.

Flathead County Commissioner Randy Bridal and Flathead County Planning Board Chair Jeff Larsen testified in favor, saying vacancy problems and board‑quorum issues have made strict membership requirements difficult in some counties. Commissioner Pam Holmquist and other county proponents said the change is about local flexibility and does not remove conservation districts’ authority to comment on land‑use projects.

Opponents were numerous and included Rebecca Boslow King, executive director of the Montana Association of Conservation Districts, who said conservation districts are legislatively mandated local soil and water authorities and that “every county in the state has a conservation district.” Boslow King and other opponents urged the committee not to adopt a statewide response to what they described as an isolated local dispute. Other opponents included Jeff Ryan of the Lewis and Clark Conservation District, Dean Rogge (Montana Association of Conservation Districts), and multiple conservation district supervisors and resource staff. They argued that conservation districts are locally elected entities with statutory duties (testimony referenced Montana conservation‑district enabling language) and that removing a required seat would sever an important channel for locally elected resource‑focused officials to influence planning decisions.

Representative Kelly defended the proposal as a county‑driven request and said commissioners should have discretion over planning board composition; he urged the committee to allow local control to appoint full boards.

During executive action, a substitute motion to table the bill passed on a roll call. Committee disclosure shows the substitute motion to table received 14 ayes and 3 noes; the clerk recorded the motion as carried and the bill was tabled.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 7 82 — outcome: tabled by committee (substitute motion to table; roll call 14 ayes, 3 noes).