Committee extends time for municipalities and conservation districts to perfect water reservations

Senate Bill 357, presented to the House Natural Resources Committee, would remove a sunset or extend the timeline for water reservations in portions of the Upper Missouri watershed so municipalities and conservation districts have more time to perfect those water rights.

Proponents from cities and conservation groups said the change is intended to protect municipal and conservation district water planning while avoiding rushed perfection. Danny Hess, representing the cities of Bozeman and Belgrade, said the bill “ensures that municipalities in this watershed continue to have the time that we need, to plan for and provide reliable public water supply now and into the future.” Ryan Leland, Helena’s public works director, said the city had spent about $23 million over two years to develop production wells and that the extended time helps plan the most economical path to provide needed capacity for future housing.

Why it matters: Municipalities and conservation districts testified the measure preserves options for long‑term public water supply and avoids expensive short‑term infrastructure choices. Witnesses representing cities including Helena, Great Falls, and others and groups such as the Montana Association of Conservation Districts and Montana Trout Unlimited supported the bill in committee.

Committee action: The committee advanced SB 357 by voice vote; proponents emphasized the bill is a planning tool to preserve water reservations for municipalities and conservation districts. Several municipal witnesses described specific local investments and planning work tied to the reservation timeline.

Limits: The bill as presented removes a sunset to allow additional time to perfect reservations in the watershed; details about exact affected water rights and technical steps to perfect were not discussed in depth in committee testimony.