It has been another busy and productive week on the hill this past week. The pace has picked up as deadlines have approached. Yesterday, March 26 was the deadline for the transmittal of appropriation bills to the Senate. Next week there is a March 31 deadline for the transmittal of revenue bills to the other legislative chamber and April 2 is the deadline for the transmittal of amendments to general bills. All of these deadlines are requiring bills to be moved and also whittling down the total amount of bills that are still active in the legislature.
This week also marked the passage of HB 645 from the House to the Senate. This is the bill that contains the funding available to the states for the federal stimulus bill. One provision that was put into the bill was $3 million to the Department to Commerce for Historic Preservation Competitive Grants. There was funding earmarked under this program for $50,000 the restoration and maintenance of the Daly Mansion, $40,000 for Saint Mary’s Mission maintenance and restoration and $180,000 for the restoration and preservation of Travelers’ Rest.
Highlights for the week:
HB 163 (Cohenour): Big Sky on the Big Screen Act: The Big Sky on the Big Screen Act, the film production incentive bill to extend the sunset date to December 31, 2014 passed the Senate on 2nd Reading on a 29-21 vote today.
HB 150 (Brown) Montana recreation safety act: This bill states that in some recreational activities there is inherent risk, and it limits the liability of providers of those recreational activities. The bill was amended in the Senate. The House accepted the Senate amendments today on a 2nd Reading 58-42 vote. I should be up for 3rd Reading on the Senate amendments tomorrow.
HB 167 (Sands): Funding for Travelers' Rest State Park: This bill seeks to provide operation funding for Traveler’s Rest State Park from the general fund. This bill missed the deadline for the appropriation bill transmittal; however, funding is currently included in HB 645.
HB 190 (Van Dyk): Clarify bridge access law: This bill tries to clarify Montana law on public access to state rivers and streams from county roads and bridges. It declares that people may gain access to state waterways for recreational use by using a public bridge, a right-of-way or abutment and a county road right-of-way. This bill was amended and passed out of the Senate Fish and Game Committee on a 7-2 vote.
HB 229 (MacLaren): Funding for St. Mary’s preservation: This bill seeks to provide funding for St. Mary’s Mission from the general fund for direct maintenance and restoration. This bill missed the deadline for the appropriation bill transmittal; however, funding is currently included in HB 645.
HB 239 (Lake) Fund restoration and maintenance of Daly mansion: This bill appropriates money from the general fund for the maintenance and restoration of the Daly mansion. This bill missed the deadline for the appropriation bill transmittal; however, funding is currently included in HB 645.
HB 644 (Sesso) Funding for national folk festival: This bill was amended to appropriate $200,000 to the Department of Commerce from the state general fund to be used for the National Folk Festival. This bill passed the House on a vote of 61-35 and was referred to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee.
SB 329 (Barkus) Revise automobile licensing and insurance laws: This is currently a 75 page bill that deals in part with phasing out the specialty license plates and having the license plates replaced by a generic license plate with the option of obtaining specific decals. There was a hearing this week before the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. Senator Barkus introduced several amendments including maintaining the specialty license plates. No executive action has been taken yet.
SB 457 (Branae) Revise scenic byways laws: This bill remains in the Senate Highways and Transportation on a tied 6-6 vote. It would need to be returned to the House by April 2 if there were any amendments to the bill or it will die.
SB 506 (Essmann) Uniform local option tourism tax: This bill provides for a local option tourism tax of 4% on the retail value of tourism goods and services, such as accommodations; prepared meals; alcoholic beverages sold by the drink; rental of automobiles, recreation vehicles, recreational equipment; and on recreational services such as hunting and fishing guide services and guided tours in addition to others. This bill was amended in the Senate Taxation Committee to exempt rental vehicles by insurance companies and increase the vendor allowance from 2% to 4%.
Legislative Activity next week:
HB 5 (Sesso) Long-range building appropriations—include energy conservation: This bill provides funding for capital needs for state parks and Montana Heritage Commission. This bill passed the House on a 71-29 vote this week. It is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 8:00 on Room 317.
HB 9 (Hollenbaugh) Cultural and aesthetic grant appropriations: This bill provides funding for the Cultural and Aesthetic Grants that are administered by the Montana Arts Council. This bill passed the House on a 68-30 vote this week. It is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on Monday, March 30, 2009 at 8:00 on Room 317.
HB 645 (Sesso) Implement receipt of and appropriate federal stimulus and recovery funds: This is the bill that contains the funding available to the states for the federal stimulus bill. One provision that was put into the bill was $3 million to the Department to Commerce for Historic Preservation Competitive Grants. There was funding earmarked under this program for $50,000 the restoration and maintenance of the Daly Mansion, $40,000 for Saint Mary’s Mission maintenance and restoration and $180,000 for the restoration and preservation of Travelers’ Rest. This bill passed the House on a 64-33 vote this week. It is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 8:00 on Room 317.
SB 343 (Jackson) Regulation of zebra mussel and other invasive species: The bill is scheduled for a hearing before the House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 3:00 pm in room 472.
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 meet the appropriations deadline will be deleted from the report next week.
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 |
(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims |
04/01/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 317 |
Long-range building appropriations -- include energy conservation |
HB 9 |
Galen Hollenbaugh |
(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims |
03/30/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 317 |
Cultural and aesthetic grant appropriations |
HB 150 |
Dee Brown |
(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading |
03/28/2009 |
Montana recreation responsibility act |
HB 163 |
Jill Cohenour |
(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading |
03/28/2009 |
Revise tax incentives for motion picture industry |
HB 167 |
Diane Sands |
(H) Missed Deadline for Appropriation Bill Transmittal* |
03/26/2009 |
Funding for Travelers' Rest State Park |
HB 190 |
Kendall Van Dyk |
(S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended -- (S) Fish and Game |
03/27/2009 |
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) Missed Deadline for Appropriation Bill Transmittal* |
03/26/2009 |
Fund St.Mary's preservation |
HB 239 |
Bob Lake |
(H) Missed Deadline for Appropriation Bill Transmittal* |
03/26/2009 |
Fund restoration and maintenance of Daly mansion |
HB 304 |
Jon Sonju |
(H) Transmitted to Governor |
03/24/2009 |
Name portion of US Highway 2 after Highway Patrol officer David Graham |
HB 311 |
Mark Blasdel |
(H) Transmitted to Governor |
03/23/2009 |
Name portion of Highway 2 in honor of Evan Schneider |
HB 312 |
Bill Beck |
(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading |
03/28/2009 |
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) Missed Deadline for Appropriation Bill Transmittal* |
03/26/2009 |
Fund media institute |
HB 644 |
Jon C Sesso |
(S) Referred to Committee -- (S) Finance and Claims |
03/27/2009 |
Funding for national folk festival |
HB 645 |
Jon C Sesso |
(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims |
03/31/2009; 8:00 AM, Rm 317 |
Implement receipt of and appropriate federal stimulus and recovery funds |
HJ 15 |
Mike Milburn |
(S) Committee Report--Bill Concurred -- (S) Fish and Game |
03/27/2009 |
Study resolution on funding for a recreation and tourism enhancement program |
HJ 32 |
Bob Ebinger |
(H) Introduced |
03/27/2009 |
Study impact of historic preservation and strategies for preservation |
SB 117 |
David E Wanzenried |
(S) Returned with Governor's Proposed Amendments |
03/21/2009 |
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 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) Missed Deadline for Appropriation Bill Transmittal* |
03/26/2009 |
Increase lodging and per diem reimbursement for state employees |
SB 329 |
Gregory D Barkus |
(S) Tabled in Committee* -- (S) Highways and Transportation |
03/27/2009 |
Revise automobile licensing and insurance laws |
SB 343 |
Verdell Jackson |
(H) Hearing -- (H) Agriculture |
03/31/2009; 3:00 PM, Rm 472 |
Regulation of zebra mussel and other invasive species |
SB 457 |
Gary Branae |
(H) Committee Vote Failed; Remains in Committee -- (H) Transportation |
03/24/2009 |
Revise scenic byways laws |
SB 506 |
Jeff Essmann |
(S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended -- (S) Taxation |
03/24/2009 |
Uniform local option tourism tax |
SJ 6 |
Ken (Kim) Hansen |
(S) Filed with Secretary of State |
03/18/2009 |
Urge 24-hour operation for Turner port of entry |
SJ 13 |
Ryan Zinke |
(S) Filed with Secretary of State |
03/09/2009 |
Commemorate Glacier Park's centennial |
SJ 15 |
Bruce Tutvedt |
(H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks |
03/20/2009 |
Urge vigorous defense of gray wolf delisting |
Unintroduced Bills
Bill Draft No. (LC No.) |
Request Date |
Requestor |
Status |
Status Date |
Short Title |
LC0092 |
04/14/2008 |
Joseph (Joe) Tropila |
(C) Draft On Hold |
10/23/2008 |
Primary seatbelt law |
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
Until next week…
