Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House approves overhaul of Montana Environmental Policy Act after extended floor debate
Summary
The House passed House Bill 285, a broad rewrite of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), after a contentious floor debate that split lawmakers over whether the bill would streamline permitting or weaken environmental protections.
House Speaker W. Perry Lear introduced House Bill 285 on the House floor, saying the measure "takes a bold step towards restoring clarity, efficiency, and purpose to the Montana Environmental Policy Act" and that it "streamlines the MEPA process" to reduce what he called unnecessary red tape.
The bill drew prolonged debate. Representative Zachary Marler said he would vote no, arguing HB 285 "tries to take out the conflict by taking out half of the conversation" and that the bill "does weaken environmental protections." Representative Chris Carlin, who served on the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
