Montana Legislature

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Legislative Update: Thursday, March 23

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DB

Proposal would head off future sales tax
By Cole Grant
A bill heard in the Montana Senate Thursday would let voters decide if the Constitution should prohibit a future general statewide sales tax option. Senate Bill 351’s sponsor, Sen. Dick Barrett, D-Missoula, says a statewide sales tax would unfairly tax people with lower income. “The higher your income, the lower the percentage of your income that you pay in tax,” he said. “Or turn it the other way around, the lower your income, the higher the percentage of your income that you pay in tax.”

He also says the proposed constitutional amendment would not include a ban on local option taxes. Bridger Mahlum with the Montana Chamber of Commerce says the chances of passing a statewide sales tax are slim. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Montana Legislature

Legislative Update: Wednesday, March 22

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SF

Mail-in-ballot bill up for hearing in House
By Freddy Monares
A contentious bill that would allow counties to opt for mail-in ballots for the upcoming special election to fill now-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s vacated congressional seat is advancing in the Legislature. Senate Bill 305 passed the Senate in February and gets its first hearing in the House on Thursday. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls, said mail-in ballots could save counties up to $500,000.  During debate on the bill last month, recorded by the Legislature, he also said the percentage of people voting by mail ballot has skyrocketed. “Most people vote by mail,” he said, “and we don’t have problems with fraud or any of these other things that people think they’re going to get from mail-in ballots.” Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, breweries, mail-in balloting, Montana Legislature

Legislative Update: Monday, March 20

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JK

Infrastructure projects proposed
By Cole Grant
Lawmakers heard proposals Monday for infrastructure projects across the state, from upgrades to university system buildings to wildlife habitat programs.

House Bill 5 allocates more than $50 million in federal and state money to infrastructure. The largest portion of that money would go to securing land for the Habitat Montana program, which, among other things, encourages wildlife conservation among landowners. Rep. Jim Keane, D-Butte, is carrying the bill. “These are the vehicles that actually build things around the state of Montana,” he said. Gov. Steve Bullock’s office proposed the list of projects last November. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Montana Legislature

Infrastructure, abortion, criminal-record bills debated

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Bridge

HELENA — As Republicans and Democrats grapple with how to fund statewide infrastructure projects at the Montana Legislature, one bill in the House aims to put that decision in the hands of local voters. House Bill 577, introduced by Rep. Dave Fern, D-Whitefish, would allow cities and towns to adopt an infrastructure tax on luxury goods and services at a maximum rate of 4 percent. However, the tax would have to be approved by local voters. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, News, abortion, Libby asbestos, Montana Infrastructure Coalition, Montana Legislature, resort tax

All eyes on budget during 2017 legislative session

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Capitol

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to included a correction. The Montana Legislature is responsible for accomplishing a great deal during the 90 days it meets every two years. But lawmakers are actually constitutionally required to do only one thing—create and pass a state budget. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, News, House Bill 2, Jenny Eck, Montana Legislature, Nancy Ballance

Legislative Update: Thursday, March 16

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Cook

Funding increase for elderly, disabled shot down
By Cole Grant
One of the amendments to the state budget Montana lawmakers shot down Thursday would have given more funding to a program that helps pay for long-term care for low-income seniors and disabled Montanans. Rep. Rob Cook, R-Conrad, chairman of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee, said there’s money left over from what was set aside for that program from the last biennium. Cook said the Legislature’s budget proposes about $3 million less to the program than what was spent last biennium. “You look at this $42 million that wasn’t spent, why wasn’t that spent on provider rate increases?” he asked. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Montana Legislature

Opinion: Raising cigarette tax will help save lives

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Meyers

Tobacco is the only product that when used as directed will kill you. Each year, 1,600 Montanans needlessly die from deadly tobacco products. Nationwide, smoking causes more than 480,000 deaths per year, or roughly one in every five deaths. Furthermore, for every person who dies from smoking, at least 30 more are suffering from serious disease and disability caused by smoking. Yet, Montana hasn’t raised its tobacco tax since 2005. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Opinion, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Montana Legislature

Legislative Update: Tuesday, March 14

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Bill would allow traditional regalia at graduation
By Freddy Monares
Native American communities across Montana are asking the Legislature to make it unlawful to ban traditional regalia, specifically beaded caps, during graduation ceremonies. Senate Bill 319 would allow items with cultural significance to be worn at public events, including public meetings, awards ceremonies and high school or college graduation ceremony. Bill supporter Georgeline Morsette is a senior in high school. “Beaded graduation caps aren’t merely for decoration or to look pretty, but there is great traditional importance to the beaded caps,” Morsette said. Cindy Swank was the only opponent of the bill. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Medical marijuana, Montana Legislature

Legislative Update: Monday, March 13

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SS

Senate blocks bicycle-friendly bill
By Freddy Monares
The Montana Senate blocked a bill that would have required vehicles going 35 mph to give cyclists three feet when passing, and five feet if traveling faster than 35 mph. House Bill 267 failed on a 24-to-26 vote. Senate President Scott Sales, R-Bozeman, opposed the bill. He says he does not want any more cyclists in the state and thinks there are too many of them as it is. “They’re some of the rudest people I’ve ever—I hate to say it, but I’m just going to be bold—they’re some of the most self-centered people navigating on highways, or on county roads I’ve ever seen. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Montana Legislature, Scott Sales

Special ed in uphill fight to find funding in Legislature

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Seth

HELENA — The main state budget bill at the Montana Legislature passed first reading last week with some surprises, including the restoration of  $11.5 million to higher education funding. But one area has consistently struggled to find funding throughout the first half of the 65th Montana legislative session—special education. Funded through a combination of federal dollars and state funds, special education has seen minimal increases in state funds, leaving local and federal dollars to pick up the slack, according to a report by the legislative school funding interim committee. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, News, Eric Feaver, Kathy Kelker, Montana Legislature, Seth Berglee, special education