MT HB31

Facilities commencing commercial operation on or after October 1, 2025 must submit decommissioning bonds by the 12th year of operation, reduced from the previous 15-year timeline

Facility owners must now submit an abstract of any leasing agreement between the facility owner and landowner to the department within 12 months of commencing commercial operation

Creates a new decommissioning lien mechanism allowing the department to file liens on generation assets of facilities that have not submitted a bond or within 30 days of abandonment, with authority to foreclose and decommission if owners fail to act within 90 days of notice

If a property lease terminates before the 12th year of operation, the owner must submit the decommissioning bond 1 year prior to the lease termination date

Proceeds from liquidated facility assets through lien foreclosure will be deposited into the wind and solar decommissioning account