All is quiet on the front. Legislators are currently on their much deserved transmittal break and will return to Helena on Monday, March 2.  This break is a great time to thank and show your appreciation to your local Legislators.  It is also a time when they are eager to hear the opinions of their local constituents.

We’ve now reached the half way point.  Any general bills that did not transfer to the second house by Thursday, February 26, are now considered dead.  Revenue bills still have until the 71st day, which is currently scheduled for March 31st.  

ALERT

HB 163 - Big Sky on the Big Screen (Rep Jill Cohenour): Scheduled for hearing on Monday, March 9, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. in Senate Taxation. This bill extends the sunset on the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act, film production incentive, to January 1, 2015.  If the bill does not get a positive vote from this committee the legislation will die and the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act will expire at the end of this year. It’s important that you contact your Senator if you support this legislation.   If you are not able to reach your senator while they are at home, messages for all Legislators can be left at 406-444-4800, or through this link http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp. 

Members of the Senate Taxation Committee:

Member	Assignment
Jeff Essmann	Chair
Taylor Brown	Vice Chair
Jerry W Black	Member
Kelly Gebhardt	Member
Bob Story	Member
Bruce Tutvedt	Member
Gary Branae	Member
Ron Erickson	Member
Kim Gillan	Member
Bradley Hamlett	Member
Christine Kaufmann	Member
Lee Heiman	Legislative Branch Staffer
Debra Polhemus	Secretary

Highlights for the week:

HB 84 (Wilson) Extend duration of fire emergency:  This bill seeks to allow a state emergency declared as a result of wild land fires to extend beyond the time limit imposed for other emergencies.  This bill passed second reading on the House Floor 56-44; however it failed on the third reading on a 50-50 vote.  Thus it failed to make the deadline for transmittal of general bills.

Legislative Activity next week:

SB 343 (Jackson) Regulation of zebra mussel and other invasive species:  The bill is scheduled for a hearing in Senate Finance and Claims on Friday, March 6 at 8:00 am.

The chart below is for introduced bills that may have direct impact on the accommodation tax or issues important to the tourism and film industry.  Bills that failed to make the transmittal are shown on the list this week; however, we will be removing them in future updates.

When looking at the status of a bill on this chart, here are some helpful hints:

• Referred to committee means the bill has been assigned to the committee, but the hearing date has not been set.
• Hearing means a hearing is scheduled.

* after status indicates the bill is probably dead

Bill Type - Number	Primary Sponsor	Status	Status Date	Short Title
HB 5	Jon C Sesso	(H) Hearing -- (H) Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning	01/30/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 350	Long-range building appropriations -- include energy conservation
HB 9	Galen Hollenbaugh	(H) Hearing -- (H) Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning	02/13/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 350	Cultural and aesthetic grant appropriations
HB 51	Dee Brown	(H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal*	02/26/2009	Make state park fee opt in
HB 84	Bill Wilson	(H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal*	02/26/2009	Extend duration of fire emergency
HB 150	Dee Brown	(S) Hearing -- (S) Judiciary	03/11/2009; 9:00 AM, Rm 303	Montana recreation responsibility act
HB 163	Jill Cohenour	(S) Hearing -- (S) Taxation	03/09/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 405	Revise tax incentives for motion picture industry
HB 167	Diane Sands	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	01/13/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 102	Funding for Travelers' Rest State Park
HB 190	Kendall Van Dyk	(S) Hearing -- (S) Fish and Game	03/19/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 422	Clarify bridge access law
HB 199	Robin Hamilton	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Taxation	01/20/2009	Revise allocation of lodging facility use tax
HB 229	Gary MacLaren	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	01/15/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 102	Fund St.Mary's preservation
HB 239	Bob Lake	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	01/21/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 102	Fund restoration and maintenance of Daly mansion
HB 304	Jon Sonju	(S) Referred to Committee -- (S) Highways and Transportation	02/23/2009	Name portion of US Highway 2 after Highway Patrol officer David Graham
HB 311	Mark Blasdel	(S) Referred to Committee -- (S) Highways and Transportation	02/23/2009	Name portion of Highway 2 in honor of Evan Schneider
HB 312	Bill Beck	(H) Committee Vote Failed; Remains in Committee -- (H) Taxation	02/12/2009	Increase population requirement for resort tax purposes
HB 329	Dee Brown	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Taxation	02/12/2009	Donut area population included in resort community population
HB 385	Bob Ebinger	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Business and Labor	02/13/2009	Fund media institute
HB 438	Diane Sands	(H) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal*	02/26/2009	Green lodging facility designation
HJ 15	Mike Milburn	(H) Transmitted to Senate	02/21/2009	Study resolution on funding for a recreation and tourism enhancement program
SB 19	Larry Jent	(S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal*	02/26/2009	Revise nonresident outfitter license--reciprocity
SB 30	Kelly Gebhardt	(S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal*	02/26/2009	Revise reimbursement for meals, lodging
SB 117	David E Wanzenried	(H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred -- (H) Appropriations	02/06/2009	Revise or eliminate certain statutory appropriations
SB 118	Verdell Jackson	(S) Bill Not Heard at Sponsor's Request -- (S) Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation	01/07/2009	Create invasive and destructive species council
SB 166	Dave Lewis	(S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal*	02/26/2009	Allow low-interest coal tax trust fund loans to expand rail passenger service
SB 190	Bob Hawks	(S) Tabled in Committee* -- (S) Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs	01/30/2009	Bed tax for heritage sites, historic preservation, and travel Montana
SB 237	Dave Lewis	(S) 3rd Reading Failed*	02/05/2009	Primary seatbelt enforcement for motor vehicle occupants
SB 309	Jim Shockley	(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims	03/05/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 317	Increase lodging and per diem reimbursement for state employees
SB 329	Gregory D Barkus	(S) Referred to Committee -- (S) Highways and Transportation	02/02/2009	Revise automobile licensing and insurance laws
SB 343	Verdell Jackson	(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims	03/06/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 317	Regulation of zebra mussel and other invasive species
SB 457	Gary Branae	(H) Referred to Committee -- (H) Transportation	02/24/2009	Revise scenic byways laws
SJ 6	Ken (Kim) Hansen	(H) Referred to Committee -- (H) Business and Labor	01/24/2009	Urge 24-hour operation for Turner port of entry
SJ 13	Ryan Zinke	(H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred -- (H) State Administration	02/03/2009	Commemorate Glacier Park's centennial
SJ 15	Bruce Tutvedt	(H) Hearing -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	03/12/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 152	Urge vigorous defense of gray wolf delisting
SJ 18	Lynda Moss	(S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal*	02/26/2009	Resolution for youth designation of state dog
SJ 23	Lynda Moss	(S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal*	02/26/2009	Resolution promoting Children in Nature

Unintroduced Bills

Bill Draft No. (LC No.)	Request Date	Requestor	Status	Status Date	Short Title
LC0001	04/25/2007	Jeff Essmann	(C) Draft to Requester for Review	02/20/2009	Uniform local option tourism tax
LC0092	04/14/2008	Joseph (Joe) Tropila	(C) Draft On Hold	10/23/2008	Primary seatbelt law
LC0122	05/22/2008	George G Groesbeck	(C) Draft Ready for Delivery	02/26/2009	Funding for national folk festival
LC0827	11/13/2008	Bill Nooney	(C) Draft On Hold	11/26/2008	Generally revise short-term lodging criteria
LC1156	12/01/2008	Jim Peterson	(C) Draft Ready for Delivery	02/13/2009	Generally revise recreation laws--hunting w permission as recreational use
LC1268	12/02/2008	Mike Menahan	(C) Draft Ready for Delivery	01/07/2009	Revise laws governing heritage commission
LC2052	01/05/2009	Debby Barrett	(C) Draft On Hold	01/06/2009	Revise statutory appropriation law
LC2225	01/16/2009	(H) Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education	(C) Draft On Hold	01/21/2009	Revise lodging facility use tax allocation

“Probably Dead" is a Bill Progress Category, and is assigned to those bills that have been voted down or missed a transmittal deadline, and to those bill drafts that have been canceled. To revive a bill that is "probably dead" typically requires a supermajority vote (usually a 2/3 vote) by the House or Senate.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Remember, the legislature has now set up a system for contacting representatives by e-mail. 
http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp

Your active participation is critical to assure that the tourism and film industry has a voice at the table.  Please stay involved!

Thanks for your commitment to our wonderful State of Montana, until next week…

 

Betsy Baumgart
Division Administrator
Montana Promotion Division
bbaumgart@mt.gov

 

 

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