Montana Chamber of Commerce, Billings Chamber & Kalispell Chamber File to Intervene in 2026 Held v. Montana

HELENA — The Montana Chamber of Commerce, the Billings Chamber of Commerce, and the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce filed a motion to intervene in Held v. Montana, a case to preserve reforms the new lawsuit intends to abolish.

In the first Held v. State of Montana case, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that the State is required to conduct greenhouse gas analysis as part of the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process.

In the 69th Legislative Session, the Montana Chamber of Commerce worked with organizations and businesses from around the state to pass MEPA reforms and a greenhouse gas analysis framework to comply with this decision, following precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court.

This second Held v. Montana case was filed to overturn this package of reforms. The suit seeks to mandate that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality creates a “comprehensive plan for the prevention, abatement, and control of Montana’s GHG emissions.”

“If the plaintiffs are successful with their litigation, the fallout will reverberate throughout Montana’s economy, with potential impacts to any business that needs a permit from the state of Montana,” said Todd O’Hair, Montana Chamber of Commerce President & CEO. “The reforms passed in 2025 create a process that is reasonable, predictable, and realistic, allowing Montana businesses to comply and thrive. Intervening in this case allows the expertise of Montana businesses to explain the real-world impacts that would result if the Held litigants were successful.”

The MEPA reforms named by the plaintiffs include SB 221, which creates a reasonable framework to establish a process for the analysis of greenhouse gases, and HB 285, designed to clarify that MEPA is procedural and should not be used as a tool for litigation and delay. The suit also takes issue with HB 291, an amendment to the Montana Clear Air Act that ensures any air quality regulations cannot be more stringent than federal requirements, creating regulatory certainty and preventing a patchwork regulatory environment for businesses.

About the Montana Chamber of Commerce

Established in 1937, the Montana Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest business advocacy organization serving its 2,000 members, from sole proprietors to publicly traded companies, and all industry sectors located throughout the 56 counties of the Treasure State.

The Montana Chamber is guided by Envision 2026, a 10-year strategic plan which aims to grow Montana’s economy by improving the business climate, ensuring appropriate infrastructure investment, developing a skilled workforce, and promoting entrepreneurship.

For more information, visit www.montanachamber.com