HB939 • 2025

Revise laws relating to wind turbine generators

Energy Technology

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Katie Zolnikov
Last action: 2025-05-19
Official status: Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Revise laws relating to wind turbine generators

What This Bill Does

Revise laws relating to wind turbine generators

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1

COMMITTEE

Plain English: Amendment - 1st Reading/2nd House-blue - Requested by: Daniel Zolnikov - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Jason Mohr, HB0939.001.001 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 939 HOUSE BILL NO.

Amendment - 1st Reading/2nd House-blue - Requested by: Daniel Zolnikov - (S) Energy, Technology & Federal Relations - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 Drafter: Jason Mohr, HB0939.001.001 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 939 HOUSE BILL NO.
939 1 INTRODUCED BY K.
ZOLNIKOV, B.
LER, G.

Bill History

2025-05-19 HOUSE
Chapter Number Assigned
2025-05-13 HOUSE
(H) Signed by Governor
2025-05-07 HOUSE
(H) Transmitted to Governor
2025-05-06 SENATE
(S) Signed by President
2025-05-02 HOUSE
(H) Signed by Speaker
2025-04-29 HOUSE
(H) Returned from Enrolling
2025-04-28 HOUSE
(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
2025-04-28 HOUSE
(H) 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
2025-04-28 HOUSE
(H) Sent to Enrolling
2025-04-25 HOUSE
(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
2025-04-25 HOUSE
(H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
2025-04-23 SENATE
(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
2025-04-23 SENATE
(S) 3rd Reading Concurred
2025-04-23 SENATE
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
2025-04-18 SENATE
(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
2025-04-18 SENATE
(S) 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
2025-04-18 SENATE
(S) 2nd Reading Concurred as Amended
2025-04-17 SENATE
(S) 2nd Reading Concurred
2025-04-17 SENATE
(S) Reconsidered Previous Action; Placed on 2nd Reading
2025-04-16 SENATE
(S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
2025-04-15 SENATE
(S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
2025-04-08 HOUSE
(H) Fiscal Note Signed
2025-04-07 SENATE
(S) Referred to Committee
2025-04-07 HOUSE
(H) Fiscal Note Received
2025-04-07 SENATE
(S) First Reading
2025-04-07 SENATE
(S) Hearing Canceled
2025-04-07 SENATE
(S) Hearing Canceled
2025-04-07 SENATE
(S) Hearing
2025-04-05 HOUSE
(H) 3rd Reading Passed
2025-04-05 HOUSE
(H) Transmitted to Senate
2025-04-04 HOUSE
(H) 2nd Reading Passed
2025-04-02 HOUSE
(H) Committee Report--Bill Passed
2025-03-31 HOUSE
(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
2025-03-31 HOUSE
(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
2025-03-31 HOUSE
(H) Introduced
2025-03-31 HOUSE
(H) Fiscal Note Requested
2025-03-31 HOUSE
(H) Referred to Committee
2025-03-31 HOUSE
(H) Hearing
2025-03-31 HOUSE
(H) First Reading
2025-03-31 HOUSE
(H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed
2025-03-30 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Edit
2025-03-30 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
2025-03-30 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
2025-03-30 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Assembly
2025-03-29 HOUSE
(LC) Draft in Legal Review
2025-03-28 HOUSE
(LC) Draft Taken Off Hold
2024-11-04 HOUSE
(LC) Drafter Assigned
2024-11-04 HOUSE
(LC) Draft On Hold

Official Summary Text

Revise laws relating to wind turbine generators

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 939
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 939
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR SETBACKS FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATORS; ESTABLISHING A WIND
TURBINE GENERATOR DEICING STANDARD; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Required setback for wind turbine generators. After [the effective date of this act], a
wind turbine generator built pursuant to a wind energy agreement as described in 70-17-406 may not be
constructed if the wind turbine tower is 500 feet or more in height, as measured from the natural ground level at
the base of the tower to the tip of the turbine rotor blade, if the base of the tower is located at a distance of less
than 1,500 feet from an occupied residence, unless a shorter setback distance is approved by the owner of the
real property.
Section 2. Wind turbine generator deicing -- requirement. After [the effective date of this act], a
wind turbine generator shall use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate icing risks during an operator-
controlled turbine rotor blade deicing process if the wind turbine generator is:
(1) 500 feet or more in height, as measured from the natural ground level at the base of the tower
to the tip of the turbine rotor blade;
(2) constructed within an area with an ice class rating of 4 or more, as defined in international
energy agency guidelines published in February 2017; and
(3) located within a distance of 1,500 feet from an occupied residence.
Section 3. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral
part of Title 75, chapter 26, and the provisions of Title 75, chapter 26, apply to [sections 1 and 2].
- 2025
69th Legislature 2025 HB 939
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 939
ENROLLED BILL
Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective January 1, 2026.
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 939, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE BILL NO. 939
INTRODUCED BY K. ZOLNIKOV, B. LER, G. PARRY
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR SETBACKS FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATORS; ESTABLISHING A WIND
TURBINE GENERATOR DEICING STANDARD; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED EFFECTIVE DATE.