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69th Legislature 2025 HB 203.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 203
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 203
2 INTRODUCED BY C. SCHOMER, S. KLAKKEN, J. SECKINGER, K. LOVE, J. SOOKTIS, C. COCHRAN, E.
3 TILLEMAN, D. BEDEY, E. BUTTREY, S. GIST, C. HINKLE, R. MARSHALL, N. NICOL, A. REGIER, C.
4 SPRUNGER, D. HARVEY, S. FITZPATRICK, B. LER, L. DEMING, J. GILLETTE, B. BARKER, L. BREWSTER,
5 T. FALK, J. FITZPATRICK, T. FRANCE, D. LENZ, T. MCGILLVRAY, B. MERCER, B. MITCHELL, G.
6 NIKOLAKAKOS, K. SEEKINS-CROWE, S. MANESS, J. HINKLE, C. FITZPATRICK
7
8 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MONTANA MINING DAY.”
9
10 WHEREAS, the state motto of Montana, adopted on February 9, 1865, is "oro y plata", which is
11 Spanish for "gold and silver", and reflects our mining heritage and vast mineral wealth; and
12 WHEREAS, the Great Seal of the state of Montana is a vivid symbol of all that is special about our
13 state and includes the state motto and a miner's pick and shovel; and
14 WHEREAS, the nickname of Montana is "the Treasure State", which was chosen because of the state's
15 vast mineral resources; and
16 WHEREAS, gold was first discovered in Montana in the 1850s, leading to major finds at Bannack,
17 Virginia City, Silver Bow Creek, and Prickly Pear Creek; and
18 WHEREAS, these major finds brought many of the first settlers and developers to Montana, leading to
19 its early economic and societal growth and the discovery and development of many other deposits of metals
20 and minerals, including coal, silver, and copper; and
21 WHEREAS, mining in Montana subsequently grew and supplied the nation with much of its mineral
22 resource needs, including copper from Butte that was smelted in Anaconda and refined in Great Falls, and
23 which powered the electrification of America and fueled the country's victorious efforts in both World Wars; and
24 WHEREAS, the mining of lignite and bituminous coal from eastern Montana coal beds heated homes
25 and fired steam-powered locomotives in the early 20th century and continues to provide the largest share of
26 Montana's electricity generation; and
27 WHEREAS, Montana's placer, underground, and surface mining employed thousands at hundreds of
28 mines, producing billions in wealth; and ****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 203.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 203
1 WHEREAS, the mining industry continues to contribute billions of dollars to Montana's economy,
2 creating thousands of permanent jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues to the state and local communities
3 each year; and
4 WHEREAS, there have been thousands of miners who died in the early days of Montana mining, but
5 whose deaths have led to world-leading safety and labor standards for workers today; and
6 WHEREAS, there have been historic environmental and social impacts from mining in Montana that
7 have led to world-leading environmental regulations and financial assurances for the protection of our
8 environment and communities; and
9 WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature authorized in 1893 the creation of the Montana State School of
10 Mines in Butte, now known as Montana Technological University (Montana Tech), which continues to be one of
11 the nation's leading schools in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and mining of natural
12 resources today; and
13 WHEREAS, Montana continues to hold significant deposits of minerals, including those critical for our
14 nation's current and future defense, economic and technological advancement, and energy transition and
15 security; and
16 WHEREAS, our state is proud of its heritage, its present, and its future in mining and mineral
17 processing and believes it is vital to promote and educate the public about the costs and benefits of responsible
18 mining in Montana sufficiently and accurately.
19
20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
21
22 NEW SECTION. Section 1. There is established a mining day for the state of
23 Montana. The Montana mining day is February 9 of each year to commemorate when the territorial government
24 adopted the state motto.
25
26 NEW SECTION. Section 2. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
27 integral part of Title 1, chapter 1, part 2, and the provisions of Title 1, chapter 1, part 2, apply to [section 1].
28 - END -