Study resolution analyzing water re-use in the state
House Joint Resolution 74 requests an interim legislative study on water reuse in Montana. The resolution frames water reuse, or recycling treated wastewater for beneficial uses, as a potential tool to strengthen sustainable and resilient water supplies, protect sensitive resources, and expand options for agricultural, industrial, and municipal use. It also notes that Montana may face technical, regulatory, financial, and educational barriers to broader adoption.
The study would direct the Legislative Council to assign an appropriate interim or statutory committee to review existing statutes and administrative rules, assess current reuse infrastructure and availability, compare Montana’s approach with other states, and identify where reuse is already occurring or could be expanded. The committee would also examine legal, economic, social, environmental, and population factors affecting reuse, and may propose legislation to incentivize or facilitate water reuse programs. The final report is due to the 70th Legislature, with all study work to be completed by September 15, 2026.
HJ 74 does not change Montana law directly; instead, it creates a legislative study directive that could lead to future statutory or regulatory changes. Its practical effect is to require review of current water reuse-related laws, administrative rules, infrastructure, and barriers, and to potentially generate recommendations for new incentives or facilitation measures for reuse programs affecting communities, industries, and water managers across the state.
The overall sentiment appears generally supportive, with the resolution advancing through both chambers and receiving adoption in committee and passage on the floor. The bill’s findings emphasize conservation, sustainability, and efficient water management, suggesting broad interest in exploring reuse as a planning tool. However, the floor votes show meaningful opposition in both chambers, indicating that while the concept was acceptable as a study, it was not unanimously embraced.
The main points of contention likely center on whether Montana should pursue water reuse more aggressively and whether the state should consider future incentives or regulatory changes. The resolution itself acknowledges possible technical, regulatory, financial, and educational roadblocks, which may reflect concerns about cost, implementation complexity, public acceptance, and impacts on existing water users. Opposition in floor votes suggests some legislators may have been skeptical of the need for the study, the policy direction it could lead to, or the broader role of government in promoting reuse programs.