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MTJoint ResolutionHJ40Passed

Study of weather modification

  1. Introduced
  2. Passed one chamber
  3. Passed both chambers
  4. Passed

Montana House Joint Resolution 40 passed in 2019 directing a legislative study of weather modification laws to propose changes that would encourage increased use of cloud seeding technology for enhancing precipitation and water supplies.

Resolution filed with Secretary of State May 1 2019

Our summary

This joint resolution does not create new public rules or enforcement mechanisms. It is a legislative directive requesting a study of existing weather modification laws with the goal of proposing changes to encourage greater use of weather modification cloud seeding technology. The resolution directs the Legislative Council to designate an interim committee or staff resources to review current laws consider input from various stakeholders and report findings to the 67th Legislature by September 15 2020.

Legislative history

Introduced March 25 2019 by Representative R Shaw. Passed House Agriculture Committee April 9. Passed House second and third readings April 12-13. Passed Senate Natural Resources Committee April 17. Concurred by Senate April 23-24. Enrolled April 26. Signed by Speaker April 26 and Senate President April 30. Filed with Secretary of State May 1 2019.

  1. (H) Filed with Secretary of State
  2. (S) Signed by President
  3. (H) Signed by Speaker
  4. (H) Returned from Enrolling
  5. (C) Printed - Enrolled Version Available
  6. (H) Sent to Enrolling
  7. (S) Returned to House
  8. (S) 3rd Reading Concurred
  9. (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  10. (S) 2nd Reading Concurred
  11. (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  12. (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred (S) Natural Resources
  13. (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred (S) Natural Resources
  14. (S) Hearing (S) Natural Resources
  15. (S) Referred to Committee (S) Natural Resources
  16. (S) First Reading
  17. (H) Transmitted to Senate
  18. (H) 3rd Reading Passed
  19. (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
  20. (H) 2nd Reading Passed
  21. (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
  22. (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed (H) Agriculture
  23. (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed (H) Agriculture
  24. (H) Hearing (H) Agriculture
  25. (H) Hearing Canceled (H) Agriculture
  26. (C) Introduced Bill Text Available Electronically
  27. (H) First Reading (H) Agriculture
  28. (H) Referred to Committee (H) Agriculture
  29. (H) Introduced
  30. (C) Draft Delivered to Requester
  31. (C) Draft Ready for Delivery
  32. (C) Executive Director Final Review
  33. (C) Draft in Assembly
  34. (C) Executive Director Review
  35. (C) Bill Draft Text Available Electronically
  36. (C) Draft in Final Drafter Review
  37. (C) Draft in Input/Proofing
  38. (C) Draft to Drafter - Edit Review [KWK]
  39. (C) Draft in Edit
  40. (C) Draft in Legal Review
  41. (C) Draft to Requester for Review
  42. (C) Draft to Requester for Review
  43. (C) Draft to Requester for Review
  44. (C) Draft Taken Off Hold
  45. (C) Draft On Hold
  46. (C) Draft Request Received

Bill text

Show consolidated bill text 
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING A STUDY OF WEATHER MODIFICATION LAWS AND REQUIRING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE REPORTED TO THE 67TH LEGISLATURE
WHEREAS weather modification is an environmentally friendly way to generate more precipitation from clouds in the form of rain or snow and
WHEREAS weather modification is also known as cloud seeding and can improve a clouds efficiency and
WHEREAS weather modification techniques are known to enhance precipitation suppress damaging hail and mitigate fog and
WHEREAS the technology was developed in the 1940s and Montanas regulations on the subject date to that time and
WHEREAS weather modification has proven to increase snowpack and rainfall under proper administration and
WHEREAS Montanas regulatory framework for weather modification needs to be reexamined to allow for increased use of the technique and
WHEREAS the Montana Legislature recognizes the importance of robust water supplies and the threat of drought through the efforts of the Water Policy Interim Committee which may be best suited to conduct this legislative study
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee pursuant to section 5-5-217 MCA or direct sufficient staff resources to review current state laws related to weather modification and to propose changes in order to encourage use of this scientific technique
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study consider
1 reports and analyses from university government and private industry researchers and engineers
2 regulatory practices in other states and Canadian provinces
3 input from agricultural producers airport authorities conservationists conservation districts irrigators practitioners private industry researchers ski resorts state and local governments water users and other potentially affected parties
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the study is assigned to staff any findings or conclusions be presented to and reviewed by an appropriate committee designated by the Legislative Council
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all aspects of the study including presentation and review requirements be concluded prior to September 15 2020
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the final results of the study including any findings conclusions comments or recommendations of the appropriate committee be reported to the 67th Legislature