The bill establishes the Town of Colstrip Water Infrastructure Mitigation Account within the state special revenue fund, which will receive $2 million annually from coal severance tax collections after other allocations are made. This account is intended to ensure that the town of Colstrip has access to a water supply in the event that the nearby coal-fired generating unit closes or retires. The Department of Natural Resources will review the account every ten years to ensure that the funding remains adequate for its intended purpose and will report its findings to the economic affairs interim committee.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 15-35-108 of the Montana Code Annotated to include the new funding allocation for the Colstrip account while removing previous language that required coal-fired generating unit operators to provide perpetual access to water for the town. The bill aims to create a more structured financial assurance for the town's water supply needs without the previous requirements placed on generating unit operators.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-8-103, 75-10-721
HB0368_1(1): 75-8-103, 75-10-721
HB0368_1(2): 75-8-103, 75-10-721
HB0368_1(3): 75-8-103, 75-10-721
HB0368_1(4): 75-8-103, 75-10-721
HB0368_1(5): 75-8-103, 75-10-721
HB0368_1: 75-8-103, 75-10-721
HB0368_2(1): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(10): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(11): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(12): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(13): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(14): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(15): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(16): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(17): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(18): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(2): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(3): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(4): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(5): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(6): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(7): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(8): 15-35-108
HB0368_2(9): 15-35-108
HB0368_2: 15-35-108
HB0368_X(1): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(10): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(11): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(12): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(13): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(2): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(3): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(4): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(5): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(6): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(7): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(8): 15-35-108
HB0368_X(9): 15-35-108
HB0368_X: 15-35-108