Montana : 2019 Regular Session : JOINT_RESOLUTION HJ40
Study of weather modification
Sponsor: Rep Ray Shaw
Bill Details
Study of weather modification
Bill 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.
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.
- Thu 15 Nov 2018 (C) Draft Request Received
- Fri 01 Feb 2019 (C) Draft On Hold
- Fri 01 Feb 2019 (C) Draft Taken Off Hold
- Tue 05 Feb 2019 (C) Draft to Requester for Review
- Wed 13 Feb 2019 (C) Draft to Requester for Review
- Mon 11 Mar 2019 (C) Draft to Requester for Review
- Wed 13 Mar 2019 (C) Draft in Legal Review
- Wed 13 Mar 2019 (C) Draft in Edit
- Wed 13 Mar 2019 (C) Draft to Drafter - Edit Review [KWK]
- Wed 13 Mar 2019 (C) Draft in Input/Proofing
- Thu 14 Mar 2019 (C) Draft in Final Drafter Review
- Thu 14 Mar 2019 (C) Bill Draft Text Available Electronically
- Fri 15 Mar 2019 (C) Executive Director Review
- Fri 15 Mar 2019 (C) Draft in Assembly
- Fri 15 Mar 2019 (C) Executive Director Final Review
- Fri 15 Mar 2019 (C) Draft Ready for Delivery
- Mon 25 Mar 2019 (C) Draft Delivered to Requester
- Mon 25 Mar 2019 (H) Introduced
- Mon 25 Mar 2019 (H) Referred to Committee (H) Agriculture
- Mon 25 Mar 2019 (H) First Reading (H) Agriculture
- Mon 25 Mar 2019 (C) Introduced Bill Text Available Electronically
- Mon 01 Apr 2019 (H) Hearing Canceled (H) Agriculture
- Tue 09 Apr 2019 (H) Hearing (H) Agriculture
- Tue 09 Apr 2019 (H) Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed (H) Agriculture
- Wed 10 Apr 2019 (H) Committee Report--Bill Passed (H) Agriculture
- Fri 12 Apr 2019 (H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- Fri 12 Apr 2019 (H) 2nd Reading Passed
- Sat 13 Apr 2019 (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- Sat 13 Apr 2019 (H) 3rd Reading Passed
- Sat 13 Apr 2019 (H) Transmitted to Senate
- Mon 15 Apr 2019 (S) First Reading
- Mon 15 Apr 2019 (S) Referred to Committee (S) Natural Resources
- Wed 17 Apr 2019 (S) Hearing (S) Natural Resources
- Wed 17 Apr 2019 (S) Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred (S) Natural Resources
- Thu 18 Apr 2019 (S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred (S) Natural Resources
- Tue 23 Apr 2019 (S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
- Tue 23 Apr 2019 (S) 2nd Reading Concurred
- Wed 24 Apr 2019 (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- Wed 24 Apr 2019 (S) 3rd Reading Concurred
- Wed 24 Apr 2019 (S) Returned to House
- Thu 25 Apr 2019 (H) Sent to Enrolling
- Fri 26 Apr 2019 (C) Printed - Enrolled Version Available
- Fri 26 Apr 2019 (H) Returned from Enrolling
- Fri 26 Apr 2019 (H) Signed by Speaker
- Tue 30 Apr 2019 (S) Signed by President
- Wed 01 May 2019 (H) Filed with Secretary of State
Supplementary documents
No supplementary documents available
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
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