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69th Legislature 2025 HB 830.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 830
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 830
2 INTRODUCED BY J. WEBER, T. CROWE, E. ALBUS, B. CLOSE, D. POWERS, E. TILLEMAN, J. ELLIS, B.
3 GILLESPIE, S. GIST, E. MATTHEWS, W. MCKAMEY, F. SMITH, M. FOX, R. MINER, G. NIKOLAKAKOS, C.
4 FITZPATRICK, V. MOORE
5
6 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT CREATING A LOCAL EMERGENCY QUICK RESPONSE
7 PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR GRANTS TO PROPERTY OWNERS FOR DAMAGE DUE TO
8 CATASTROPHIC NATURAL EVENTS; PROVIDING THAT A CONSERVATION DISTRICT MAY ENTER INTO
9 A COST-SHARE AGREEMENT WITH A PROPERTY OWNER AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDS; PROVIDING AN
10 APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
11
12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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14 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Local emergency quick response account. (1) There is a local
15 emergency quick response account in the state special revenue fund established in 17-2-102. All funds
16 received pursuant to [section 3] must be deposited in the account and distributed pursuant to [section 2].
17 (2) Money deposited in the account is appropriated to the department of natural resources and
18 conservation and may only be used for immediate aid to property owners who reside outside the boundaries of
19 an incorporated city or town and who have experienced property damage or loss due to catastrophic natural
20 events, including but not limited to:
21 (a) removal of fallen or uprooted trees to create a safety zone at a homesite or to provide access
22 to private roads used to access private property;
23 (b) removal of timber or other natural materials that may cause a future fire risk;
24 (c) immediate acquisition of feed for livestock due to the destruction of grazing or other feed
25 resources;
26 (d) minor fencing to provide immediate security of livestock if fences are damaged to the extent to
27 allow for livestock loss; and
28 (e) other purposes considered necessary and appropriate by a conservation district board.
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69th Legislature 2025 HB 830.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 830
1 (3) (a) For each fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, $1 million is allocated to be spent from the
2 account each quarter of the fiscal year.
3 (b) Any unspent funds in a quarter must be made available in the subsequent quarter.
4
5 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Local emergency quick response funding program -- conservation
6district distribution process -- allowable amounts. (1) If a board of county commissioners has passed an
7 emergency resolution as provided in 10-3-402, a citizen may apply for emergency quick response funding on a
8 cost-share basis pursuant to subsection (5).
9 (2) A conservation district established in Title 76, chapter 15, shall accept applications and
10 administer the local emergency quick response funding program for emergencies occurring within the
11 boundaries of the conservation district.
12 (3) An application for funding must be received within 60 days of the passage of the emergency
13 resolution required in subsection (1) and must include:
14 (a) the date when the property damage occurred, which must occur during the date range included
15 in the emergency resolution;
16 (b) an itemized list of damages for which the property owner seeks funding;
17 (c) a list of the total anticipated costs;
18 (d) identification of the entity or entities who will complete the required work; and
19 (e) any information that demonstrates that the property damage occurred during the period of the
20 emergency resolution.
21 (4) A property owner may only submit one application requesting up to $10,000 during the time of
22 emergency and may not be awarded funding from the account provided in [section 1] more than once in a 5-
23 year time period.
24 (5) If the conservation district board finds that an application submitted pursuant to this section
25 meets the requirements of [section 1] and this section and sufficient funds are available in the account, the
26 conservation district may enter into a cost-share agreement with the property owner.
27 (6) Before funds may be distributed from the local emergency quick response account provided for
28 in [section 1], the property owner shall enter into a cost-share agreement with the board of county
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69th Legislature 2025 HB 830.1
- 3 - Authorized Print Version – HB 830
1 commissioners. The cost-share agreement must specify:
2 (a) the amount of funding to be paid from the local emergency quick response account, which may
3 not be more than 75% of the total costs; and
4 (b) the amount of funding to be paid by the property owner.
5 (7) (a) Funds from the local government emergency quick response account may not be awarded
6 directly to a landowner or the landowner's immediate family.
7 (b) The amount of funding to be paid from the emergency quick response account to the property
8 owner must be distributed after the conservation district receives receipt of work completed with an itemized list
9 of costs.
10 (8) The conservation district may retain up to 7% of the total amount awarded to a landowner for
11 the administration of the program.
12
13 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Appropriation. (1) There is appropriated $8 million from the general
14 fund to the department of natural resources and conservation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, for the
15 purposes of [sections 1 and 2].
16 (2) The appropriation must be deposited in the account provided for in [section 1].
17 (3) Money from the appropriation that is not spent during the biennium must revert to the general
18 fund.
19
20 NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2025.
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