Montana House District 55 - Work to Protect Communities Continues
June 17, 2025
By Representative Brad Barker (Montana House District 55)
On June 4th, Governor Gianforte received a detailed briefing for the 2025 wildfire season. The forecast indicates a high likelihood of significant wildfire activity beginning in western Montana by July and expanding statewide through September. Drought conditions, depleted snowpack, and multi-year soil moisture deficits—particularly in western and central Montana—suggest a potentially long and severe fire season, comparable to those in 2006, 2017, and 2021.
Following the 2022 Carbon County flooding disaster and prior year fires, I sponsored an interim study under House Joint Resolution 23 during the 2023 session to identify key gaps in Montana’s disaster recovery framework. HJ 23 identified limited local and state recovery capacity, delays in permitting and federal reimbursement processes, and a lack of proactive planning resources as key areas for improvement to support long-term recovery. County officials, emergency managers, and state agencies all underscored the need for earlier investment in recovery readiness.
To address these concerns, I introduced House Bill 334 in the 2025 session. The bill proposed increasing Montana’s disaster appropriation by $4 million per biennium and allowing up to $2 million annually to be used proactively—for planning, training, and staffing—without requiring a formal disaster declaration. HB 334 enabled communities to better prepare in advance, accelerate recovery timelines with state assistance for local efforts, and reduce long-term economic disruption for families, businesses, farmers, and ranchers.
Backed by a wide range of county and emergency management officials, including many local officials. HB 334 received strong bipartisan support in the House, passing by a vote of 83–14 with only the Montana Freedom Caucus in opposition. Unfortunately, the Freedom Caucus joined forces with some Democrats to block the bill’s advancement in the Senate.
While I am disappointed with the outcome, I remain committed to finding practical solutions to strengthen our state’s resilience. Disasters are unpredictable, our response does not need to be. Montana taxpayers deserve a forward-looking investment in preparation that will save lives, protect infrastructure, and reduce overall costs.
I would like to thank Scott Miller, Carbon County Commissioner, and Tom Kuntz, Red Lodge Fire Chief, for their testimony in support of HB 334.
I appreciate your continued trust and will continue to work to ensure our communities are equipped to recover quickly and effectively when disaster strikes. Please email, text, or call with any questions or feedback. I am honored to serve you and remain committed to continuing to earn your trust.
