House bill would create $10,000 cost-share pilot to help ranchers and landowners after localized disasters

Representative Jane Weber, sponsor of House Bill 830, told the House Local Government Committee the bill creates an emergency quick-response assistance pilot to help Montana ranchers, farmers and private landowners recover faster after localized natural events such as windstorms, microbursts, floods and wildfire damage. "This is the emergency quick response assistance bill and it's a cost share program to help Montana ranchers farmers and land owners get back to work quickly after a localized natural weather event," Weber said.

Under the proposal Weber described, the program would be activated after county commissioners adopt an emergency resolution for the affected area; landowners outside municipalities would be eligible; conservation districts would administer the cost-share agreements and contracts; and the cost-share would be $10,000 per applicant with a 25 percent match from the landowner (a $2,500 contribution). Weber said the conservation district — not the county commission — would implement the contracts.

Numerous proponents testified in support. Gracie Holzheimer described damage to her small cabin from a severe wind-and-snow event and urged passage so conservation districts could contract for large debris removal that individuals cannot accomplish alone. Jeffrey Tiberi of the Montana Association of Conservation Districts said the bill enables conservation district staff "to help neighbors who may be in dire straits." County commissioners and conservation-district supervisors testified that local events — floods, wildfire complexes and storms — had created needs that existing authorities and federal programs addressed too slowly.

Several tribal governments (Blackfeet Tribe, Fort Belknap Indian Community, and Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy) and farm and conservation groups filed or gave testimony in favor, saying a rapid local tool would help producers retain income and stabilize operations while longer-term federal programs proceed. Testimony emphasized that the pilot is for immediate, short-term emergency fixes (clearing hazardous downed timber, temporary fencing, hauling domestic hay, temporary road or bridge fixes) and that no money would be paid directly to landowners; conservation districts would contract and oversee work.

Committee members asked how the program would interact with insurance and federal programs; Weber and proponents said the bill is intended for immediate response and not a substitute for longer federal or insurance-based assistance, which can take months. Witnesses also described administrative mechanics: funds would be appropriated to DNRC and held there; counties notify the conservation district and the district processes applications; conservation districts are already accustomed to contracting on private lands.

Why it matters: The bill creates a locally administered tool to address immediate needs after small or localized disasters that fall below thresholds for federal or state disaster programs and that may not be addressed rapidly by existing insurance or relief channels. Supporters said it increases resilience and can be used to contract for services (loggers, contractors) that private owners may lack the capacity to organize quickly.

Outcome: The committee heard broad proponent testimony and informational comments from DNRC and the state disaster and emergency services administrator. No final committee vote was recorded in the hearing.