The House Energy, Federal Relations and Technology Committee opened with roll call, a safety briefing from House sergeant‑at‑arms staff, and committee introductions. Chair Gary Perry (R) said the committee will use proxies when members cannot attend and established a procedure for informational witnesses to introduce themselves and then sit down until called for questions.

Officials from the Montana Public Service Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) introduced agency personnel and offered to serve as resources for the committee. Brad Molnar, president of the Public Service Commission, described the commission’s regulatory role and offered staff support and briefings. Commissioner Jennifer Fielder emphasized the agency’s partnership with the legislature, saying, "Consider us a resource and a partner in your efforts," and noted reforms the commission has undertaken in recent years.

Ben Brauer, energy bureau chief at DEQ, summarized the bureau’s functions: it is the federally recognized state energy office, performs regional energy and transmission planning, implements wind and solar bonding and decommissioning programs, and provides objective analysis and technical assistance to policymakers. DEQ also maintains background materials, including a quadrennial introductory report on Montana’s energy sector that staff can distribute to committee members.

Stakeholder groups and trade associations briefly introduced themselves and left contact information for the committee. Representatives included Mark Lambrecht of the Montana Electric Cooperatives Association, Mckenna Sellers of the Montana Renewable Energy Association, and Caroline Canarios of the Northern Plains Resource Council. Each group said it would be available to answer technical questions and provide testimony on bills before the committee.

Committee rules and staff logistics: Griffin Burns, the committee’s nonpartisan research analyst, told members that amendment requests should be submitted 24 hours in advance if possible and that staff will assist with drafting. Committee clerk Aspen Brenna described scheduling and minute‑taking procedures. The committee set a preliminary meeting cadence and noted two bills (HJ1 and HB55) scheduled for the next meeting; members said they expect robust debate on those items.

Chair Perry closed the meeting by reminding members to turn in proxies to vice chairs and to retain brown folders with materials they want available at the next meeting. The committee adjourned with plans for additional briefings and the two bills on the forthcoming agenda.