Legislative Briefing Papers and Fact Sheets

Legislative Briefing Papers provide an educational and in-depth perspective on conservation legislation in Montana - to increase the effective participation of conservation advocates in the political arena and to provide background for policy-makers and the media.

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Energy Efficient Schools
While schools are struggling to make ends meet, high energy bills are making things worse. In December 2007, the Legislative Fiscal Division reported that 40 percent of Montana schools will not have enough money to continue their 2007-08 programs in 2008-09. (more...)

Energy Efficiency Standard
An Energy Efficiency Standard (EES) is a simple, market-based mechanism to encourage more efficient generation, transmission, and use of electricity and natural gas. An EES includes end-user energy saving improvements that are aided and documented by utilities. (more...)

Big Sky Rivers Act
The Big Sky Rivers Act ensures that new buildings are set back a safe distance from the banks of 10 Big Sky rivers in order to protect people and property and the rivers' outstanding economic, biological and recreational values (see map). (more...)

Preserve Current Environmental Protections
This bill undermines all of that work by throwing the door open to inadequate subdivision applications that will have to be approved by local governments regardless of the subdivision's impact on neighboring property owners or taxpayers.  (more...)

HB 483
Limiting the public's right to protect itself from pollution
while giving an unfair advantage to corporation. (more...)

HB 584
Wind energy is an important, growing alternative renewable energy source in Montana. However, wind energy projects on a site-specific basis can adversely impact wildlife, wildlife habitat, and cultural and historic sites. (more...)

SB 257
SB 257 makes a mockery of Montana Renewable Energy Standard (RES), prints money for hydroelectric generators, like PPL, and corrupts the renewable energy certificate market. (more...)

SB 505
Senate Bill 505 undermines water rights laws. (more...)

 

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Protect Same-Day Voter Registration
Let’s not eliminate voting opportunities for Montana residents by rolling back our successful late voter registration period.
Montana's late registration period is a success: Election Day registration allows Montana residents to vote who are erroneously missing from the voter lists on Election Day. (more...)

Create a Thoughtful Review Process for Mail Ballot
One of the most significant voting proposals before the 2009 legislature is one that is the result of an interim election study on mail balloting. The mail ballot pilot program proposed in HB 18, sponsored by Rep. Pat lngraham (R-Trout Creek), would test the use of mail ballots for elections in 2009 and 2010 in 17 volunteer counties. (more...)