Nerds for Earth

Montana Healthy Soils Policy

In 2020, Grow Montana, a coalition of more than twenty food and agriculture organizations has undertaken drafting a soil health study bill. The long-term goal of the work is to establish a soil health program in Montana. With funding, healthy soils legislation would become a policy priority in this state. For more information and to connect with local organizations please email Montana@HealthySoilsPolicy.org.

Legislative Status Update

Updates in 2023

SJ9 [LS] Joint resolution establishing soil health week and day (first week and first day in April) – passed and enrolled 4/25/2023

Updates in 2022

None, legislature not in session

Updates in 2021

SB180 [LS], Establish an interim committee on soil health

Soil & Rangeland Projects Expansion for Renewable Resource Grant and Loan (RRGL) Program

Date: 

The Renewable Resource Grant and Loan (RRGL) program was created by the 1993 Legislature. HB424 was passed on May 7, 2017

Legislation:  

HB424 / RRGL program is codified in Title 85, Chapter 1, Part 6.

Sponsors: 

Representative Zach Brown

Description: 

HB424 is an act that builds on the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan (RRGL) program. The bill states the following: 

An act recognizing source watersheds as a water resource; clarifying that soil and range health are vital to renewable natural resources; providing that source watersheds may be considered for the montana renewable resource grant and loan program; clarifying objectives of the program to include source watersheds; increasing available matching funds for grants and loans to private parties.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC) Renewable Resource Grant and Loan (RRGL) Program does not solicit project specific types, but all projects eligible under Title 85, Chapter 1, Part 6 may apply to DNRC for RRGL funds. Projects are not categorized based on soil or range health. There are several projects that when completed may have soil/range health benefits.

HB424 added to 85-1-601. Purpose and Policies:

  • (7) Source watersheds are an integral component of Montana’s water resources. Source watersheds that provide the majority of the state’s drinking and irrigated agricultural water are particularly important to maintaining the reliability, quantity, timing, and quality of Montana’s environmental, drinking, and agricultural water supply. Because source watersheds have a critical role in enhancing water supply reliability, the maintenance and repair of source watersheds are eligible for the renewable resource grant and loan program.
  • (8) Soil and range health play a vital role in protecting and sustaining Montana’s renewable natural resources by retaining water, soil, and nutrients in place on the landscape. Enhancing soil and range health will provide long-term benefits to Montana’s water and other renewable resources and to the users, wildlife, and economies they support.

HB424 added to 85-1-602. Objectives (additions bolded):

  • (2) Projects that may enhance renewable resources in Montana include but are not limited to:
  • (a) development of natural resource-based recreation;
  • (b) development of natural, offstream, and tributary storage;
  • (c) improvement of water use efficiency, including development of new, efficient water systems, rehabilitation of older, less efficient water systems, and acquisition and installation of measuring devices required under 85-2-113; monitoring; and development of state, tribal, and federal water projects;
  • (d) water-related projects that improve water quality, including livestock containment facility projects, soil and range health projects, and the maintenance and repair of source watersheds;
  • (e) water-related projects that improve water quantity, including streamflows and water storage in existing natural systems, such as riparian areas, flood plains, and wetlands;

Stated Goals: 

“The legislature finds and declares that in order that the people of Montana may enjoy the benefits of the state’s water and other renewable resources, the state shall establish this long-term renewable resource grant and loan program providing financial and administrative assistance to private for-profit, private, nonprofit, local government, state government, and tribal government entities for renewable resource grant and loan projects.”

Supported Projects: 

The projects that have been awarded since the law was passed can be reviewed in the Governor’s budget books that summarize the approved projects:

House Committee

Agriculture

Senate Committee

Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation

State Universities & Researchers

Agricultural Organizations & Technical Assistance

Education & Advocacy Groups

Last Update 01/18/2024

Questions?

This site is meant to facilitate groups, agencies, and individuals wishing to learn about and advance soil health policy. Interested parties are encouraged to send an email to the state page contact with requests for state-specific information.