House Bill No. introduced by B. Carter and others establishes "Noah's Act," aimed at streamlining transportation planning processes in Montana. The bill seeks to eliminate the need for duplicative reviews by the Transportation Commission for certain plans and projects that have already been approved by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). It defines MPOs and outlines that long-range transportation plans adopted by these organizations will fulfill state review requirements, thereby allowing for more localized decision-making on urban street projects and nonoperational safety improvements.

The bill amends Sections 60-2-110 and 60-2-111 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, including the insertion of new provisions that clarify the roles of the commission and department district administrators in project approvals. Specifically, it allows for projects that align with state-reviewed plans to bypass further commission review, streamlining the approval process and enhancing efficiency in addressing local transportation needs. The bill also includes a codification instruction to integrate the new sections into existing law.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 60-2-110, 60-2-111
HB0773_1(1): 60-2-110, 60-2-111
HB0773_1(2): 60-2-110, 60-2-111
HB0773_1(3): 60-2-110, 60-2-111
HB0773_1: 60-2-110, 60-2-111