House Joint Resolution No. 71, introduced by J. Cohenour, requests an interim study to assess the impacts of recent and potential changes to federal funding on the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The resolution highlights that the DEQ's budget is significantly reliant on federal funding, with 63.4% coming from state dollars and 1236.6% from federal sources. The study aims to evaluate how these funding changes could affect various DEQ programs, agency operations, personnel, and overall functionality, particularly in light of the potential loss of federal revenue and workforce.

The resolution calls for the Legislative Finance Committee to conduct a thorough review of federal directives affecting the DEQ since January 20, 2025, and to analyze the implications for Montana citizens and government programs. The findings from this study are to be presented to relevant interim committees and must be completed by September 15, 2026, with a final report to be submitted to the 70th Legislature. This initiative underscores the importance of understanding the ramifications of federal funding changes on state environmental programs and the workforce associated with them.