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, ensuring that local regulations align with state guidelines. Additionally, it stipulates that subsurface onsite wastewater treatment systems that are already installed and functioning will not be subject to amendments or updates to local health board rules adopted after their installation. The bill also mandates that local boards provide written directives to landowners regarding the installation and requirements for new or existing wastewater treatment systems, and it prohibits local boards from imposing additional requirements without clear evidence.

The bill amends Sections 50-2-116 and 50-2-130 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, including the insertion of new provisions that protect existing wastewater systems from new regulations and require transparency in communication with landowners. It establishes an immediate effective date and retroactive applicability for the provisions related to wastewater treatment systems, ensuring that they apply to systems installed before the bill's effective date. Overall, the legislation seeks to streamline local health regulations while safeguarding existing systems from potential regulatory changes.

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