Chair Schillinger summarized Section C's recommended House Bill 2 funding for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), which included personal‑services increases and investments in IT systems, water measurement databases and support for the state streamgage network.

The committee adopted five additional DNRC positions across divisions and increased funding for ServiceNow developers and water‑rights IT projects. The DNRC package included continued support for the Montana Streamgage Network and state participation in the U.S. Geological Survey cooperative streamgage program; committee materials cite state share amounts for those partnerships.

The chair asked for clarification on one DNRC decision package, 24‑020 (water storage project investments), which the agency said is contingent on a separate revenue bill (an LC) that the Office of Budget and Planning (OBPP) is sponsoring. Water Resources Division Administrator Anna Pakenham Stevenson told the committee the revenue bill (LC 02/1959 referenced in committee notes) was still planned and that, as a revenue bill, it had time to advance through the process.

Schillinger noted streamgage and measurement investments have become a higher priority across agencies; committee material shows DP 24014 (streamgage support) and related compact program funds to assist USGS and tribal gauges.

Director Amanda Kaster and DNRC staff offered to follow up to provide bill references and to update the committee on the status of the water storage legislation and associated funding.