State agencies would use funds for long-range building projects

State agencies and public universities would receive listed funding or permission to spend other available funds on building, repair, land, and planning projects. The projects cover state agencies, the Montana university system, military facilities, parks, transportation facilities, and state-owned buildings listed in sections 2 through 5. Some authority-only funds do not require a legislative appropriation. Certain projects require approval from the office of budget and program planning before funds may be used. Projects using other funding sources must follow the financial-plan, reporting, and project-scope rules in section 7. Capital projects may not use the Capitol Complex deferred-maintenance funds for leased space or additional state-owned square footage. The appropriations cover the biennium ending June 30, 2027, and the operating and maintenance appropriations begin July 1, 2025, when their stated conditions are met.

The department of administration would transfer $150 million from the general fund to the long-range building program account and could begin planning before other funding arrives. The transfer supports the long-range building program, while the planning and bidding rules apply to capital projects in sections 2 and 3. A project that depends on other funding may not be put out for bid until the department director approves a financial plan and agency agreement. The plan may not substantially reduce the listed funding or substantially change the project’s legislative concept. The Department of Environmental Quality must review projects for possible energy-conservation funding, and agencies must use that funding if it is available and accepted on the stated terms. The department must complete the $150 million transfer by June 30, 2027; planning may begin before other funding is received, and reporting continues each regular legislative session until a project begins construction or is canceled.

Listed building-program records and repair lists would use a $300,000 value cutoff, while new facilities needing added state support would require that support to be funded. The cutoff applies to the facility inventory and condition assessment and to single, combined, or phased major-repair projects covered by the listed provisions. A new facility requiring immediate or future state funding for program expansion or operations and maintenance may not be authorized unless the needed funding is also appropriated. At least 80% of major-repair funds would be directed to health, safety, building-system, infrastructure, energy, water, or serious building-condition work. No more than 20% would be directed to remodeling, aesthetic upgrades, or additions. The facility inventory cutoff applies when the division prepares the inventory, and the repair-list cutoff applies to lists submitted before a regular legislative session.