Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 767: Revise county predator control laws to include goats

HB 767 revises county predator control laws to include goats. It authorizes county commissioners to establish predatory animal control programs specifically for the protection of goats, often based on recommendations or petitions from local goat producers. To fund these programs, commissioners can impose a per capita license fee on goats aged one year or older. The collected fees and proceeds from selling skins of predatory animals are deposited into a dedicated predatory animal control fund for goats.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates a per capita license fee (tax) on goats to fund predator control programs, directly establishing a new revenue stream for government spending.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 611: Generally revise salaries for certain elected officials

HB 611 revises the process for determining the salaries of several elected state officials in Montana, including the Governor, Attorney General, and State Auditor. The Department of Administration is required to conduct a biennial salary survey comparing these officials' salaries to those in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho. If the average salary from the surveyed states is higher, that average will become the new salary for the Montana official, effective July 1 of the following year. This bill also clarifies that the State Auditor serves as the ex officio Commissioner of Insurance and Securities, with the salary changes for the State Auditor taking effect on January 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill adjusts state officials' salaries via regional comparison, directly impacting state budget allocations for public employees.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 341: Revise laws relating to brain injuries

HB 341 revises how funds are collected and used to support individuals and families, including military service personnel, living with traumatic brain injuries. It changes the existing voluntary donation for traumatic brain injury awareness during motor vehicle registration to an automatic $1 donation, from which individuals can opt out. The collected funds will be used by the Department of Public Health and Human Services for TBI prevention, education, and recovery support, and county treasurers must post notices explaining this automatic donation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates mandatory $1 donation for TBI programs, allocating funds to public health services via new revenue stream95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExplicitly includes military service personnel in TBI support funding, advancing veterans' healthcare access through mandatory donations for recovery programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 40: Revise public water supply fee accounts

HB 40 establishes a new "plan review special revenue account" within the state special revenue fund. This account will receive fees collected by the Department of Environmental Quality for reviewing plans and specifications related to public water supply and public sewage systems. The funds in this account are specifically dedicated to covering the department's costs associated with performing these plan reviews. This mechanism aims to create a dedicated funding source for the regulatory oversight of these systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fee account for regulatory costs, promoting fiscal responsibility by ensuring fees directly cover associated department expenses.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 8: Renewable resource bonds and loans

HB 8 approves specific renewable resource projects and reauthorizes others, enabling the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to provide loans for them. These loans are available to various political subdivisions and local governments for purposes such as dam rehabilitation and irrigation system improvements. To fund these projects, the bill authorizes the issuance of up to $121,198,444 in coal severance tax bonds. Loan disbursements are subject to conditions including DNRC approval of the project's scope and budget, and the execution of a loan agreement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $121M in coal severance tax bonds for renewable infrastructure projects, using existing tax funds to finance approved initiatives under Appropriations and Coal Tax Fund subjects.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAuthorizes $121M in bonds for renewable projects via DNRC loans, directly funding clean energy infrastructure like dam rehab and irrigation improvements.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds renewable projects via loans/bonds, promotes clean energy and water conservation through dam irrigation improvements and DNRC financing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 223: Allow interest earned on workforce housing appropriations to be retained

SB 223 amends an existing law to ensure that any interest or income earned from a $12 million fund for workforce housing is retained within that fund. This fund is specifically allocated to assist employees working at state facilities that house state inmates or behavioral health patients, particularly in eligible rural counties. By retaining the earned interest, the bill aims to increase the total resources available for initiatives such as buying down construction costs, providing loans, or acquiring housing for these employees. The bill takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to interest earned on or after June 14, 2023.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRetains interest in workforce housing fund to increase resources for housing initiatives, promoting fiscal responsibility and funding essential programs within state appropriations.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRetains interest in workforce housing fund, increasing resources for housing initiatives in rural counties, directly funding affordable housing development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRetains interest in workforce housing fund to increase resources for employee housing at state facilities, directly supporting employment conditions for workers in eligible rural counties.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 177: Allow community choice school commission to seek public funding

SB 177 authorizes the Community Choice School Commission to seek and receive public funding. The bill also clarifies the commission's existing ability to accept and spend gifts and donations from private individuals and entities. These changes directly impact the financial operations of the Community Choice School Commission, which is responsible for approving authorizers for choice schools across the state. This allows the commission to broaden its sources of financial support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes public funding for school commission, increasing state budget allocation for education programs per bill's explicit language on seeking public funds.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes public funding for school commission, expanding financial support for choice schools and clarifying donation acceptance to strengthen school finance operations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HB 166: Revise Montana historical society laws

HB 166 removes the termination dates for two specific financial accounts: the Montana Historical Society Membership Special Revenue Account and the Montana Original Governor's Mansion Special Revenue Account. This action allows these accounts, which support the Montana Historical Society and the Governor's Mansion, to continue operating indefinitely without a previously scheduled end date. The bill achieves this by repealing Section 6, Chapter 423, Laws of 2015, which originally established these termination dates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents defunding of two specific accounts by removing termination dates, supporting continued budget allocation for historical society and mansion programs.70% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 1: Resolution urging Congress to fully fund law enforcement in Indian Country

House Joint Resolution 1 (HJ 1) is a resolution from the Montana Legislature urging the United States Congress to fully fund public safety and law enforcement agencies and programs within Montana's Indian reservations. It also calls on the U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate with the Department of the Interior and consult with tribal governments to improve the administration and funding of tribal justice systems, including courts and victim services. The resolution further invites Montana's tribal governments and requests the Governor to send supporting communications to Congress, which the Montana Secretary of State will then compile and forward.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly urges full federal funding for law enforcement and tribal justice systems, directly advocating for increased government spending on essential public safety programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly urges full funding for tribal law enforcement and justice systems (courts, victim services), directly strengthening criminal justice infrastructure per resolution language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 650: Revise bonding laws to include broadband projects

HB 650 revises state bonding laws by expanding the definition of "project" to include facilities that provide broadband service. This change allows municipalities and counties to issue bonds to fund projects aimed at delivering broadband services. Specifically, it targets areas where existing broadband speeds are below 100 megabits per second download and 20 megabits per second upload. The bill provides a mechanism for local governments to finance the development of high-speed internet infrastructure in underserved locations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables local governments to issue bonds for broadband infrastructure funding, advancing public service investment through fiscal mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enables local funding for broadband infrastructure in underserved areas, directly advancing internet access technology through bond financing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes