House Energy committee advances multiple bills; HJ 13 on Article V convention fails

The House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations committee took executive action on several bills after an educational presentation from the Montana Public Service Commission.

Senator Daniel Zolnikov introduced three Senate bills the committee heard in the afternoon session. SB 22 would extend the deadline for scheduling hearings in Class D garbage hauler cases from 60 to 90 days to give applicants time to secure representation and allow more discovery. "This move simply cuts down on paperwork really at the commission by not having to waive that 60 day deadline with such frequency," Trevor Graff of the PSC said in support.

SB 23 would authorize the commission to set a railroad accident reporting threshold by rule so state law can match the Federal Railroad Administration’s threshold (noted in testimony as $12,000 for calendar year 2024). PSC representatives said the change is intended to avoid frequent statutory updates and to align with federal preemption concerns; Representative Fielder moved a technical amendment to replace inconsistent references to the department with "commission." The committee concurred in SB 23 with an amendment and approved the amended bill 14–0.

SB 51 would move prescriptive telecommunications registration requirements from statute into PSC rulemaking so those requirements can be updated without repeated legislative changes; the committee concurred 14–0.

In executive session, the committee took action on House bills and resolutions. Members voted to amend and pass HB 392 (Child Digital Protection Act) after a sponsor amendment that removed the phrase "Internet access service" (a drafting correction) and replaced an ambiguous "ongoing" reporting requirement with an "annual" one; the amendment and the amended bill each passed by voice vote (recorded as 14 ayes, 0 nos). HB 350 (prohibiting enforcement of certain intergovernmental entity policies) passed out of committee on a roll call, 8 ayes, 6 nos.

Two joint resolutions were considered. HJ 12 (a resolution asking Congress to remove any requirement to purchase electric vehicles) passed by roll call, 8 ayes and 6 nos; members debated whether the resolution’s use of the word "mandate" accurately described prior executive actions. HJ 13 (a joint resolution asking Montana to apply for an Article V convention to propose federal term limits) generated extended debate about risks and loopholes; it failed on a roll call, 5 ayes and 9 nos, and a subsequent substitute motion to table passed.

Representative Daniel Zolnikov carried the Senate bills; other members asked technical and policy questions during hearings. The committee concluded by taking concurrence votes on SB 22, SB 23 and SB 51 and then adjourning.

Votes at a glance

- HB 392 (amendment and amended bill): amendment passed (voice; 14–0), amended bill passed (voice; 14–0). - HB 350: passed out of committee on roll call, 8 ayes, 6 nos. - SB 22: concurred in (motion carried; no roll‑call tally recorded in transcript). - SB 23: amendment adopted; amended bill concurred in, 14 ayes, 0 nos. - SB 51: concurred in, 14 ayes, 0 nos. - HJ 12: passed on roll call, 8 ayes, 6 nos. - HJ 13: failed on roll call, 5 ayes, 9 nos; substitute motion to table passed.

The committee adjourned after wrapping up concurrence and executive business.