Protect Our Planet: How to Advocate for Essential Environmental Safeguards

Anne Hedges and Katy Spence

The current Montana legislature is making it tough for public health protections. The Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) has been advocating for clean air and water for over 50 years. Yet, this legislative session feels exceptionally unfriendly toward our essential environmental safeguards. It seems some lawmakers forget that clean air, water, and a stable climate are vital for everyone’s well-being in Montana.

As we reach the midpoint of the 2025 Montana Legislative session, it’s crucial to acknowledge the progress we’ve made. We’ve successfully blocked several bills that threatened our growing wind energy industry. A significant bill that would have favored private property interests over community concerns was also rejected. Many Montanans are actively participating in this process, raising their voices on environmental issues through MEIC’s website and other channels.

However, there’s still a lot of work to do. Your input can significantly influence upcoming climate and environmental legislation in the next couple of months.

The Supreme Court recently ruled on a youth climate case, Held v. Montana, stating that parts of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) were unconstitutional for not allowing climate considerations in decision-making. This ruling has put MEPA at risk, with several bills introduced this session aiming to weaken it, which could diminish our protection of air and water quality.

MEPA is critical for ensuring Montana’s commitment to a clean environment. It requires the state to carefully assess how new projects impact our water, air, wildlife, and community resources. Current bills aim to undermine this protection and could violate the Supreme Court’s ruling.

While one positive bill seeks to amend MEPA to include climate impact assessments, multiple others are trying to limit this fundamental law. For example, SB 221 would prevent the state from considering climate impacts from many industrial projects. There are also bills like HB 285 and HB 291 that downplay long-term environmental impacts and prohibit greenhouse gas regulations unless the federal government acts first.

Other legislation could lower pollution standards to expedite industrial development. One significant concern is HB 587, which would allow coal mines to increase pollution levels in our rivers. This could have severe consequences for our water resources, especially in eastern Montana where clean water is invaluable.

Additionally, several bills propose to fast-track subdivision approvals without adequate environmental review. Under SB 262, state assessments of proposed subdivisions would end, ignoring how numerous septic systems might harm nearby waterways. This kind of sprawl is harmful to our climate and future water availability.

Now is the time to act on these urgent issues affecting our environment. If the legislature proceeds with its current agenda, it could lead us into a detrimental situation that will be hard to reverse. We all benefit from clean air, water, and a stable climate, so it’s essential to remind our lawmakers that we must prioritize these elements for the health of both our people and our economy.

For more information on critical bills impacting our environment, visit MEIC’s website. They provide updates on how you can take action. Let’s work together to protect Montana’s natural resources and our communities.

Anne Hedges is the Executive Director, and Katy Spence is the Communications & Engagement Director at the Montana Environmental Information Center. This column is brought to you by Climate Smart Missoula, sharing insights on climate twice a month.

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