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Category: City Desk

• conservation
• Montana Evnironmental Policy Act
• Montana Solar Shares Act

By Kathleen Shannon - Producer, Contact - News

Big Sky Connection - The Montana Solar Shares Act and a bill phasing out single-use styrofoam food containers were among some bipartisan state conservation efforts vetoed by Gov. Greg Gianforte. A lawmaker who worked on the bills calls the vetoes “discouraging.” Comments from state Rep. Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula.

Click on the image above for the audio. The Montana Environmental Policy Act, which supports the state constitution, was weakened by a bill that passed in the state this session. Some involved with the legislation expect lawsuits will challenge the new law. (Adobe Stock)

Kathleen Shannon

July 3, 2025 - Environmental and wildlife conservation in Montana took hits during this year's state legislative session, including vetoes from the governor on bills that received bipartisan support.

Among bills Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed was House Bill 477, which would have phased out some single-use Styrofoam food containers in favor of those made from Montana agricultural byproducts.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Marilyn Marler, D-Missoula, called it "discouraging" when such a bipartisan effort is vetoed.

"Because it seems to me he did not listen to a wide variety of people, even in his own party," she said. "I think that with this particular bill, it just didn't send the right message about what our values are."

Tourism and recreation are important and growing industries in the state, and as Marler put it, "People don't come here to see trash."

Constituents can see how their lawmakers voted on conservation this session on the Montana Conservation Voters 2025 legislative scorecard.

Marler also voiced concern about weakening the Montana Environmental Policy Act, which was designed to uphold Montanans' constitutional right to a clean environment. While there was a win for habitat funding, Marler added she is seeing continued privatization of wildlife.

"It was not a great session for conservation and it was not a great session for Montana hunters," she explained. "It is becoming very hard to keep commercialization of wildlife off the books."

In renewable energy news, Gianforte vetoed the Montana Solar Shares Act, which would allow Montanans to buy shares in an energy-generating solar array. But a veto override poll for lawmakers is currently underway by mail.

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