Legislative Action Alert 1/10/23

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Greetings Friends!

The 2023 Legislative Session started off rapidly on just the second day of the new year. We are back in the halls this year, and this time, I am joined by our new Legislative Assistant, Peter Dudley. We are working hard to keep you updated and give you what you need to be heard!

It's time for all of us to speak up for wildlife, their habitats, and climate solutions.

This is our first “Action Alert” of the season - so read on for the best and easiest ways to get involved this week and through the entire 68th Legislative Session.

In each alert, we will highlight:

Key pieces of legislation that need immediate action
Contact information for relevant legislators
How to submit comments to critical committees and legislators before key votes

In advance, thank you for your vital civic engagement during this important 2023 Montana legislative session!

Yours in Conservation,

Amy Seaman

Director of Policy & Science

aseaman@mtaudubon.org

House Bill 60: An act providing for an annual fee for electric vehicles registered in the state - Sponsored by Rep. Denley Loge (R - St. Regis, MT)

Status: Passed Committee on 1/9/2023

Montana Audubon Position: Oppose

HB 60 would make electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle ownership more expensive by charging some of the highest fees in the country. The bill proposes an additional annual registration fee of $130 for EVs and $70 for hybrid vehicles weighing less than 6000 lbs and $190 for EVs between 6,000 and 10,000 lbs, including electric trucks. Higher weight hybrids would have to pay $100 each year, and even heavier vehicles may pay up to $1,100. This bill is heading to the floor so we need you to tell your legislators that Montana doesn't need extra fees on EV's and hybrids.

ACTION NEEDED THIS WEEK: Please click here to send an email to your legislator and encourage them to VOTE NO on House Bill 60! Be sure to select the option to message the “Legislator”, and scroll to select your legislator! Please include a personal message about the importance of making Montana a welcoming place for clean cars.

House Bill 85: Expand Montana Environmental Policy Act categorical exclusions - Sponsored by Rep. Marty Malone (R - Pray, MT)

Status: Passed Committee with Amendments on 1/9/2023

Montana Audubon Position: Oppose

If passed, HB 85 would weaken the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) by exempting large acreages of public land from review under MEPA, including land for commercial development, grazing, or agriculture that involve the repair, maintenance or replacement of infrastructure; any water development with “de minimis” impacts, or herbicide applications.

As written, the bill does not state whether the replacement of infrastructure needs to be of a similar size, scale, and impact, what constitutes “de minimis” for water development projects, or outline restrictions on herbicide applications to protect water, pollinators, and wildlife. Most importantly, the bill was not intended to apply to commercial development on state lands, activity that can impact hundreds of acres nearby communities.

ACTION NEEDED THIS WEEK: Please click here to send an email to your legislator and encourage them to VOTE NO on House Bill 85! Be sure to select the option to message the “Legislator”, and scroll to select your legislator! Please include a personal message about the importance of keeping Montana's Environmental Policy Act strong.

Senate Bill 39: Revise permitting for incinerators - Sponsored by Rep. Marty Malone (R - Pray, MT)

Status: Hearing scheduled for 1/11/2023 in Senate Natural Resources

Montana Audubon Position: Oppose

We don’t think about it often, but human and pet crematoriums are subject to air pollution standards just like other emitters in the state. However, SB 39 (Sen. Dan Bartel, R-Lewistown) would weaken or eliminate the state’s air quality standards for some incinerators.

The current law, passed in 1993, requires additional analysis to ensure a negligible risk to public health is posed by incinerators burning potentially harmful waste. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is asking the legislature to reduce the requirements on incinerators and to entirely exempt human and pet crematoriums from conducting risk analysis.

Action Needed: Please click here to send an email to the committee and encourage them to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 39! Be sure to select the option to message the “Committee” and scroll to (S) Natural Resources. Please include a personal message about the importance of clean air.

Or you can connect with legislators in Senate Natural Resources directly:

Welborn, Jeff (R) - Chair - Dillon - (406) 949-6070 Jeff.Welborn@legmt.gov
Sales, Walt (R) ‐ Vice Chair - Manhattan - (406) 282-7435 Walt.Sales@legmt.gov
Morigeau, Shane (D) ‐ Vice Chair - Missoula (406) 546-4290 Shane.Morigeau@legmt.gov
Brown, Bob (R) - Trout Creek - (406) 242-0141 Bob.Brown@legmt.gov
Curdy, Willis (D) - Missoula - (406) 728-0981 Willis.Curdy@legmt.gov
Flowers, Pat (D) - Belgrade - (406) 580-0035 Pat.Flowers@legmt.gov
Gillespie, Bruce (R) - Ethridge - (406) 949-4453 Bruce.Gillespie@legmt.gov
Lang, Mike (R) - Malta - (406) 654-7357 Mike.Lang@legmt.gov
Lynch, Ryan (D) - Butte - (406) 498-6625 Ryan.Lynch@legmt.gov
Small, Jason (R) - Busby - (406) 690-0923 Jason.Small@legmt.gov
Usher, Barry (R) - Billings - (406) 252-2888 Barry.Usher@legmt.gov
Secretary: Jodi Mott, Rm 65, 444-7363
Staff: Jason Mohr, Rm 171, 444-1640

Thank you for supporting Montana's environment through your vital civic engagement!

If you would like to stop receiving legislative action alerts from Montana Audubon but continue receiving our monthly eNews, please email Kristin Sewak at kristin@mtaudubon.org and let us know. Thank you!

Montana Audubon

406.443.3949