MontanaBill would fund firefighting training facility projects
The failed measure would let local government firefighting authorities seek facility grants, supported by a proposed $5 million state transfer, from July 1, 2025.
What it does
Local government firefighting authorities could apply for grants covering facility construction, repairs, property, and equipment, but awards would depend on available money and project rules.
Recipients would face reporting and project rules, possible matching requirements, and limits of $250,000 per project and $500,000 total per county.
The proposal would move $5 million from the general fund into the program account for grants and administration, with spending allowed across later budget periods.
Argument forFacility grants could help local firefighting authorities build, repair, or equip training sites without paying the full project cost themselves.
Argument againstAuthorities might face extra work and costs from matching requirements, reporting, design standards, and other department conditions before receiving funds.
More detail
The Department of Military Affairs would accept applications and could award grants for firefighting training facility projects. Eligible applicants are local government firefighting authorities that provide firefighting services. Grant money could pay for property, construction, remodeling, repairs, and equipment. Applicants would have to submit applications to qualify for funding. Funding would be available only while money remained in the program account. Projects would have to follow applicable design rules or generally accepted industry standards. The proposed program would take effect July 1, 2025, and end June 30, 2031.
Grant recipients would have to sign agreements, track project results, and meet department requirements; the department could require a 1% match for grants of $25,000 or more. The requirements would apply to recipients of grants under the proposed firefighting training facility program. The department could require the match in cash or donated services. The department would reduce a grant if actual project costs were lower than projected. State funding would be limited to $500,000 per county, no more than two funded applications per county, and $250,000 per project. These conditions and limits would apply when grants were selected and paid during the proposed program period.
The state treasurer would transfer $5 million to the firefighting training facility account, and the Department of Military Affairs would receive that money for grants. The money would support grants to local government firefighting authorities and related department administration. Up to 3% of the appropriated money could cover grant administration. The department could use the appropriation only for grants authorized by the proposed program. The appropriation could continue into the 2027 and 2029 bienniums. The transfer would be due by July 1, 2025. The appropriation would cover the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and could continue through the biennium beginning July 1, 2029; the proposed act would end June 30, 2031.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 27(H) Veto OverrideLatest
- May 27(H) Veto Override Vote in Progress
- May 13(H) Vetoed by Governor Greg GianforteMajor
- May 7(H) Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- May 7(S) Signed by PresidentPassed Senate
- May 6(H) Signed by SpeakerPassed House
- Apr 30(H) Returned from Enrolling
- Apr 29(H) Sent to Enrolling
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 29(H) 3rd Reading Senate Amendments
- Apr 29(H) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 28(H) 2nd Reading Senate AmendmentsMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 28(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 25(S) Returned to House with Amendments
- Apr 24(S) 3rd Reading
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24(S) Scheduled for 3rd ReadingMinor
- Apr 23(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23(S) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 18(S) Committee Report - (S) Finance and Claims
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in_as_amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 18(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Finance and Claims
- Apr 17(S) Hearing - (S) Finance and Claims
- Apr 16(S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Finance and ClaimsMinor
- Vote recorded Do Concur. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 16(S) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 15(S) Committee Report - (S) Local Government
- Apr 14(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Local Government
- Vote recorded be_concurred_in. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 11(H) Revised Fiscal Note Printed
- Apr 11(H) Revised Fiscal Note Signed
- Apr 10(H) Revised Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Apr 10(S) Hearing - (S) Local Government
- Apr 9(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Local GovernmentMinor
- Apr 9(S) 1st Reading
- Apr 8(H) Transmitted to Senate
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8(H) 3rd Reading
- Apr 7(H) 2nd ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7(H) Scheduled for 2nd ReadingMinor
- Apr 4(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
- Vote recorded do_pass_as_amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 4(H) Revised Fiscal Note Requested
- Apr 4(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 4(H) Hearing - (H) Appropriations
- Apr 2(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded do_pass_as_amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded to_take_from_the_table. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 2(H) Committee Report - (H) Local Government
- Apr 2(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Local Government
- Apr 2(H) Taken from Table in Committee - (H) Local Government
- Mar 27(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) Local GovernmentMinor
- Vote recorded to_table. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27(H) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Printed
- Feb 27(H) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Signed
- Feb 27(H) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Feb 24(H) Fiscal Note Printed
- Feb 22(H) Sponsor Rebuttal to Fiscal Note Requested
- Feb 22(H) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- Feb 21(H) Fiscal Note ReceivedMinor
- Feb 17(H) 1st Reading
- Feb 17(H) Hearing - (H) Local Government
- Feb 17(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Local GovernmentMinor
- Feb 14(H) Fiscal Note Requested
- Feb 14(H) Introduced
- Feb 13(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Feb 7(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Feb 6(LC) Draft in Assembly
- Feb 6(LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Feb 5(LC) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Feb 4(LC) Draft in Edit
- Feb 3(LC) Draft in Legal Review
- Jan 21(LC) Drafter AssignedIntroduced
Emergency ManagementPublic SafetyTaxes & Budget