2025 Legislative Session

The January 2025 monthly Gallatin Water Collaborative discussion centered on the 2025 Montana Legislative Session and how different user groups are thinking about issues in the legislative session that impact water quality, water quantity, and/or the resiliency of our lands. Presenters included Katherine Berry (GWC Water Policy Manager), Ashlie Gilbert (Gallatin County Planning), Will Shepard (Gallatin Association of Realtors), Walt Sales (Senior Water Rights Holder, Rancher, Former Senator, and AGAI Board member), and Clayton Elliott (Montana Trout Unlimited).

Goals of this session: 

• Understand how different user groups are thinking about 2025 legislative issues that impact water quality, water quantity, and/or the resiliency of our lands.

• Discuss specific issues on our radar, such as exempt wells, final decree transitions, permitting coordination, water storage funding, and nutrient standards.

Meeting resources:

• Meeting agenda 

• Meeting notes

• Full Recording

2025 Legislative Session resources:

• 2025 Montana Legislative Session Bill Explorer

• DNRC Comp Water Review bill draft and policy recommendations

• GWC 2025 Legislative Session Summary

• MTU Bill Tracker

• GAR 2025 Bill Tracker

• Watch/Listen link for legislative sessions (Link B)

• BillTrack50