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HB 481

Require posting of EPA guidance documents

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kerri Seekins-Crowe

Montana bill requiring state agencies to publicly post EPA guidance documents died in committee without advancing to a floor vote.

(H) Died in Process
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Bill Summary · HB 481

Legislative bill overview

HB 481 would have required Montana state agencies to post EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) guidance documents on their websites and make them publicly accessible. The bill aimed to increase transparency around federal environmental guidance that agencies use in their operations and regulatory decisions.

Why is this important

EPA guidance documents significantly influence how Montana agencies implement environmental regulations affecting industries, landowners, and natural resource management. Public access to these documents would allow stakeholders to understand the reasoning behind agency decisions and potentially identify inconsistencies between federal guidance and state implementation.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance burden: Agencies would need resources to identify, compile, and maintain current EPA guidance across multiple programs, creating administrative costs
  • Document scope ambiguity: The bill's definition of which EPA documents qualify could be vague, potentially creating disputes about what must be posted
  • Federal-state regulatory tension: Some may view this as either promoting transparency or as complicating state autonomy in environmental decision-making depending on political perspective

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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