This bill amends the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) sections 75-11-307 and 75-11-308 to revise the reimbursement date for petroleum storage tank cleanup funds and extend rulemaking authority. Specifically, it changes the eligibility for reimbursement by updating the date from which expenses can be claimed. The new effective date for eligible expenses is set to January 1, 1984, replacing the previous date of April 13, 1989. This change applies to both corrective action costs and compensation for third-party bodily injury or property damage related to releases from petroleum storage tanks.

Additionally, the bill outlines the conditions under which owners or operators can receive reimbursement for eligible costs, including the requirement that the release must be accidental and discovered on or after the new date. It also specifies the types of expenses that are ineligible for reimbursement, such as costs incurred before the new date and expenses related to tanks owned by certain entities, including refineries and federal government tanks. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_1(1): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_1(2): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_1(3): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_1(4): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_1(5): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_1(6): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_1: 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_2: 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_X(1): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_X(2): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_X(3): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_X(4): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_X(5): 75-11-307, 75-11-308
HB0189_X: 75-11-307, 75-11-308