The bill amends Section 76-13-201 of the Montana Code Annotated to increase fire protection assessment rates collected by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Specifically, it raises the maximum fee for fire protection from $50 to $58.70 for each landowner within a wildland fire protection district. Additionally, the bill modifies the charge for landowners with more than 20 acres, changing the rate from 30 cents to 49 cents per acre per year for each acre in excess of 20 acres.

The bill stipulates that these changes are necessary to ensure adequate funding for fire protection services as outlined in Section 76-13-207. It also maintains that no additional charges will be assessed to participating landowners unless there is proven negligence or a violation of specific regulations. The effective date for this bill is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 76-13-201
HB0421_1(1): 76-13-201
HB0421_1(2): 76-13-201
HB0421_1(3): 76-13-201
HB0421_1(4): 76-13-201
HB0421_1(5): 76-13-201
HB0421_1(6): 76-13-201
HB0421_1: 76-13-201
HB0421_X(1): 76-13-201
HB0421_X(2): 76-13-201
HB0421_X(3): 76-13-201
HB0421_X(4): 76-13-201
HB0421_X(5): 76-13-201
HB0421_X(6): 76-13-201
HB0421_X(7): 76-13-201
HB0421_X(8): 76-13-201
HB0421_X: 76-13-201