(Helena) – Montana lawmakers are preparing to take a major look at wildfire safety and land management.
The state’s Environmental Quality Council will gather on September 8th to close out its current interim session. Topping the agenda is a trio of proposed bills aimed at boosting wildfire resilience and handling invasive species. Lawmakers will consider establishing a dedicated wildfire resiliency task force, alongside a major one-point-seven million dollar funding boost for noxious weed programs. The package would also stiffen penalties for untreated infestations. Beyond infrastructure, state wildlife officials will brief the council on upcoming grizzly bear management plans and next season’s wolf hunt quotas.
The 17-member council meeting kicks off at 8:00 a.m. at the Capitol in Room 172, with virtual attendance available over Zoom.
