The reports are:

• HJ 14 study of the future of the Water Court
• HJ 40 study of weather modification
• a whitepaper on "climate and water rights"

The legislation is related to:

• weather modification (PD0006)
• adjudication benchmarks (PD0010)

The committee will also release a bill draft related to water right ownership updates in the coming weeks.

Each report contains background and the committee's inquiries into each topic. The committee may preintroduce the proposed legislation for the 2021 session. The reports and legislation are available for review on the WPIC’s website, http://www.leg.mt.gov/water. Comments may be sent to the WPIC at P.O. Box 201704, Helena, MT 59620-1704, or emailed to jasonmohr@mt.gov with the subject line, “Public comments for WPIC reports/bills.”

All comments received by 5 p.m. on Sept. 10 will be compiled for the WPIC prior to its Sept. 14-15 meeting. Comments received after the deadline will be provided to the WPIC at or after the meeting. Comments are welcome in person at the meeting as well. An agenda and other meeting materials for the September meeting will be made available on the WPIC’s web site approximately two weeks in prior to the meeting.

The WPIC is led by Rep. Zach Brown, D-Bozeman, chairman, and Sen. Jeffrey Welborn, R-Dillon, vice-chairman. Other members of the committee are: Sen. Jill Cohenour (D-E. Helena), Sen. Bruce “Butch” Gillespie (R-Ethridge), Sen. Jon Sesso (D-Butte), Rep. Bob Brown (R-Thompson Falls), Rep. Carl Glimm (R-Kila), Rep. Bradley Maxon Hamlett (D-Cascade), Rep. Shane Morigeau (D-Missoula), and Rep. Walt Sales (R-Manhattan).