MT HB490

Electric facilities providers (regulated utilities, electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and transmission entities) must prepare and submit wildfire mitigation plans to their approval authority by December 31, 2025, with updated plans required every 3 years

Wildfire mitigation plans must describe high-risk areas, inspection and maintenance strategies, vegetation management programs, power line de-energization methods, system restoration procedures, estimated implementation costs, and community outreach efforts

Strict liability standards may not be applied to electric facilities providers for wildfire-related damages; providers can only be found liable if they failed to exercise reasonable care expected of a similarly situated provider and that failure proximately caused the injury

Providers that substantially followed an approved wildfire mitigation plan receive a rebuttable presumption they acted reasonably in lawsuits seeking wildfire-related damages

Punitive damages require clear and convincing evidence of gross negligence or intentional conduct, and civil actions must be commenced within 3 years from when injury or damages were first incurred