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House Natural Resources Committee advances SB 76 to clarify water-rights permitting timelines and hearings
Summary
The committee voted to advance Senate Bill 76, a technical cleanup to the 2023 HB 114 water-rights reforms, clarifying when timelines start, guaranteeing hearings on denials and giving DNRC 30 days after public comment to update preliminary determinations.
The House Natural Resources Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 76, a technical cleanup to changes made by House Bill 114 in 2023 that overhauled Montana's water-right permit and change processes. Senator Sue Vinton, sponsor of SB 76, told the committee the measure clarifies processing timelines, hearing rights and the department's response period for public comments.
The bill matters because it adjusts how the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation determines statutory timelines and how applicants receive due process. "This is a cleanup bill for a water right permit and change process which were overhauled by HB 114," said Senator Sue Vinton, Senate District 20. Nate Ward,…
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