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Bill would raise forest-fire readiness assessment caps; DNRC, stockgrowers debate allocation and fairness
Summary
House Bill 421 would increase statutory caps on fire protection assessment rates that fund DNRC readiness activities; DNRC urged higher caps to fund equipment, training and personnel while the Montana Stockgrowers Association opposed the increase absent a vote of assessed landowners.
Representative Steve Gist introduced House Bill 421, which proposes higher caps for the fire protection assessment that funds the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) readiness account used for equipment, training and other wildfire preparedness needs.
Matt Hall, Fire Protection Bureau Chief for DNRC, testified the department protects roughly 60 million acres across the state and that the Legislature provides two-thirds of the fire protection budget by appropriation while DNRC must generate roughly one-third through fire protection assessments. Hall said statutory assessment caps last were adjusted in 2015 and current caps no longer generate enough revenue to meet appropriations. The bill would raise the maximum assessment per landowner from $50 to $58.70 and the per‑acre assessment over 20 acres from $0.30 to $0.49. DNRC staff told the committee the department does not intend to assess at the cap immediately; DNRC estimated next‑year rates might be about $52.80 and $0.43 per acre over 20 acres.
Representative Gist and DNRC described readiness activities the fees would support: personal protective equipment and replacement fire shelters, hand tools, portable radios, fire hoses, training and salaries for initial attack resources. The department said higher costs — PPE, radios, tires, labor — have outpaced past rates.
Ellie Brighton of the Montana Stockgrowers Association testified in opposition and said members prefer increases be approved by the landowners being assessed rather than set by the Legislature. Committee members asked whether grazing provides natural fire deterrence and whether assessment revenue should be directed to local volunteer departments; DNRC replied that local initial-attack resources are essential and DNRC often supports them with aircraft, engines and personnel when fires grow beyond local capacity.
Representative Gist closed asking for a due pass for the bill. The transcript records committee questions and testimony but no recorded committee vote during the hearing.
