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Sponsor describes House Bill 518 as a transparency measure after PSC denials; industry warns title is broad

2375028 · February 21, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

House Bill 518 would limit the PSC’s ability to deny some class‑D and class‑A applications without a new public hearing. Sponsor Representative Brad Barker called it a transparency bill; the Montana Solid Waste Contractors Association cautioned the bill’s title could permit unintended changes.

Representative Brad Barker introduced House Bill 518 to the House Energy Committee as a transparency measure that would require public hearings when certain permit applications are denied, rather than allowing the Public Service Commission to issue denials without a hearing in some procedural circumstances. "This bill is essentially just a transparency bill," Barker said, asking the committee to consider amendments if members were concerned that titles or language were overly broad.

Barker explained the provision he seeks to change: when a territory sought by an applicant was previously the subject of a public PSC investigation and finding, the commission may currently…

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