House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise the powers of local boards of health concerning sanitation regulations. The bill removes the ability of local boards to adopt sanitation-related rules that are more stringent than state standards. It specifically states that subsurface onsite wastewater treatment systems that are already installed and functioning will not be subject to any amendments or updates to local health board rules adopted after their installation. Additionally, the bill includes provisions that require local boards to provide written directives to landowners regarding the installation and updates of these wastewater systems, ensuring that no additional requirements can be imposed without clear evidence.

The bill amends Sections 50-2-116 and 50-2-130 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes. Notably, it introduces a new subsection that protects existing wastewater treatment systems from new local regulations, while also allowing local boards to adopt rules for failed systems. Furthermore, it establishes an immediate effective date and retroactive applicability for the new requirements concerning wastewater treatment systems. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline local health regulations and protect existing systems from being subjected to potentially more burdensome local rules.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 50-2-116, 50-2-130
HB0658_1(1): 50-2-116, 50-2-130
HB0658_1(2): 50-2-116, 50-2-130
HB0658_1(3): 50-2-116, 50-2-130
HB0658_1(4): 50-2-116, 50-2-130
HB0658_1(5): 50-2-116, 50-2-130
HB0658_1: 50-2-116, 50-2-130