Today is the 22th Legislative Day and it has been a fairly quiet week for the tourism and film bills with the exception of HB 163.

House Bill 163, the bill to extend the sunset on the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act is up for a full vote from the House of Representatives.  Although originally scheduled to be heard today, it was postponed.  This bill allows the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act to continue until January 1, 2015.  It does not increase the percentages of the tax credit or alter the law in any other way.  This bill had a good committee hearing with many proponents and no opponents, and it passed out of the House Taxation Committee on a 16-4 vote.   It will next be heard by the full House.  We need your support to ensure that it passes.  Please contact your Representatives and leave them a message with your support of this important economic development bill.  The number to reach your Representative is 406-444-4800 or email them at http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/61st/legwebmessage.asp    
 
The detractor’s of this bill talk about tax credits for Hollywood producers, but the reality is that 63% of the productions that have been certified are Montana production companies.  This legislation helps Montana to build an indigenous film industry as well as attracting new dollars from out of state.  The reality of this tax credit is that not one cent of credit is issued until a film production comes to Montana, employs Montanans, purchases Montana goods and services, has this information audited by the Department of Revenue, pays a $500 administrative fee, and files a Montana tax return.   At this point they can claim their tax credit.  This bill puts Montanans to work at good paying jobs and is a clean industry that takes pictures and leaves money. 

The Big Sky on the Big Screen Act has done what it was intended to do!  Montana saw a 34% increase in film production the first year the program was in effect, and a 12% increase the following year.  Now 42 states have similar programs and Montana needs this legislation in order to stay competitive for this lucrative business and to increase our local production.

It is also important to note that in two separate economic studies done on the fiscal impacts of the Big Sky on the Big Screen act, both show that in addition to creating new jobs and bringing economic activity to our communities, this bill generates more in total tax collected than Montana offers in tax credit. 

Please let your Representative know that you support the passage of HB 163 and that it is good for Montana. 

The Montana Promotion Division has been monitoring several bills this week that affect administration of state programs, as well as various aspects of the tourism and film industry.  Below we have listed introduced bills and all legislative requests that we think might have a direct impact on the tourism and film industries.

Highlights for the week:

HB 150 (Brown): Montana recreation safety act. This bill states that in some recreational activities that there is inherent risk and it limits the liability of providers of those recreational activities.  This is similar to legislation that has been introduced in past legislatures.  The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee on a vote of 10-8. 

SB 190 (Hawks) Bed tax for heritage sites, historic preservation, and travel Montana: This bill was tabled by theSenate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee. 

Legislative Activity next week:

SJ-13 (Zinke) A joint resolution to commemorate the Centennial of Glacier National will be heard on Tuesday, February 3, at 8:00 a.m. before the House State Administration Committee.  This resolution has already passed the Senate.

HB 385 (Ebinger) Fund media institute:  The bill states that the Department of Commerce shall identify professional media arts programs that train workers and appropriates $200,000 from the general fund for the biennium for the support of these programs.  This bill is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday, February 4, at 3:00 p.m. before the House Appropriations Committee. 

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. 

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.

 

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) Referred to Committee -- (H) Appropriations	12/23/2008	Cultural and aesthetic grant appropriations
HB 51	Dee Brown	(H) Hearing -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	02/10/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 152	Make state park fee opt in
HB 84	Bill Wilson	(H) Hearing -- (H) Natural Resources	01/19/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 472	Extend duration of fire emergency
HB 150	Dee Brown	(H) Committee Report--Bill Passed -- (H) Judiciary	01/28/2009	Montana recreation responsibility act
HB 163	Jill Cohenour	(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	01/30/2009	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 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	(H) Hearing -- (H) Transportation	02/04/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 455	Name portion of US Highway 2 after Highway Patrol officer David Graham
HB 311	Mark Blasdel	(H) Hearing -- (H) Transportation	02/04/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 455	Name portion of Highway 2 in honor of Evan Schneider
HB 312	Bill Beck	(H) Hearing -- (H) Taxation	01/30/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 152	Increase population requirement for resort tax purposes
HB 329	Dee Brown	(H) Hearing -- (H) Taxation	02/04/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 152	Donut area population included in resort community population
HB 385	Bob Ebinger	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	02/04/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 102	Fund media institute
SB 19	Larry Jent	(S) Referred to Committee -- (S) Fish and Game	12/03/2008	Revise nonresident outfitter license--reciprocity
SB 30	Kelly Gebhardt	(S) Tabled in Committee* -- (S) State Administration	01/09/2009	Revise reimbursement for meals, lodging
SB 117	David E Wanzenried	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	02/04/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 102	Revise or eliminate certain statutory appropriations
SB 166	Dave Lewis	(S) Tabled in Committee* -- (S) Local Government	01/27/2009	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) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended -- (S) Highways and Transportation	01/30/2009	Primary seatbelt enforcement for motor vehicle occupants
SB 309	Jim Shockley	(S) Referred to Committee -- (S) State Administration	01/29/2009	Increase lodging and per diem reimbursement for state employees
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) Hearing -- (H) State Administration	02/03/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 455	Commemorate Glacier Park's centennial
SJ 15	Bruce Tutvedt	(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	01/31/2009	Urge vigorous defense of gray wolf delisting

Unintroduced Bills Matching the Search Criteria

Total number of Unintroduced Bills - 13

Bill Draft No. (LC No.)	Request Date	Requestor	Status	Status Date	Short Title
LC0001	04/25/2007	Jeff Essmann	(C) Draft Request Received	04/25/2007	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 On Hold	01/21/2009	Funding for national folk festival
LC0827	11/13/2008	Bill Nooney	(C) Draft On Hold	11/26/2008	Generally revise short-term lodging criteria
LC0854	11/13/2008	Diane Sands	(C) Draft Ready for Delivery	01/08/2009	Green lodging facility designation
LC0966	11/17/2008	Deborah Kottel	(C) Draft Ready for Delivery	01/28/2009	Limit liability of host of off-highway vehicle activity
LC1156	12/01/2008	Jim Peterson	(C) Draft On Hold	12/01/2008	Generally revise recreation laws
LC1194	12/01/2008	Lynda Moss	(C) Draft Ready for Delivery	01/27/2009	Resolution for youth designation of state dog
LC1268	12/02/2008	Mike Menahan	(C) Draft Ready for Delivery	01/07/2009	Revise laws governing heritage commission
LC1924	12/22/2008	Mike Milburn	(C) Draft Ready for Delivery	01/29/2009	Study resolution on funding for a recreation and tourism enhancement program
LC1938	12/23/2008	Gary Branae	(C) Draft On Hold	12/23/2008	Revise scenic byways laws
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

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

Until next week…

 

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

 

 

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