Rep. Becky Edwards

Maddy summaryHJ 8 is a study resolution requesting an interim committee to examine Montana's electric vehicle (EV) registration fees and charging station taxes. It directly affects EV owners, who currently pay an annual fee $152.46 higher than the average gas vehicle owner's fuel tax. The resolution directs the committee to assess the fairness of these fees compared to gas vehicles, review other states' approaches, and develop a more equitable system to address road funding gaps. The study, required to report to the 70th Legislature by September 2026, died in process on May 22, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 654 aims to support and expand early literacy targeted intervention programs within school districts. The bill clarifies how school districts can count students participating in these programs, including those offered in partnership with community organizations, for Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculations, which affects state funding. It also proposes creating a temporary grant program to help districts establish or expand classroom-based early literacy intervention initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 26, titled "Repeal mercury thermostat collection act," eliminates the existing Mercury-Added Thermostat Collection Act. This bill removes state requirements that prohibited the sale and installation of mercury-added thermostats. It also discontinues mandates for manufacturers to operate collection and recycling programs, for wholesalers to provide collection sites, and for related education, outreach, and annual reporting. The repeal of these specific sections of the Montana Code Annotated removes these environmental regulations concerning mercury thermostats.

Maddy summaryHJ 62 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study on wildfire prevention and community resilience in Montana. The study will task an interim committee with examining the increasing impacts of wildfires on population centers, the role of land use planning and building materials in fire spread, and the effectiveness of existing state policies. It also seeks to identify potential solutions, including community incentives and statewide regulations, to alleviate wildfire risk. The committee's findings and recommendations will be reported to the 70th Legislature to inform future policy decisions impacting Montanans.

Maddy summaryHJ 42 requests an interim study of state agency procurement practices in Montana. This study will review existing statutes and rules, identify how agencies determine whether to seek bids, and examine state procurement items over $25,000 from the past four years for any deviations from the Montana Procurement Act. It aims to identify funds paid to vendors selected outside standard processes, evaluate contracts for waste, fraud, or abuse, and investigate ways to standardize contract reporting. The study will culminate in recommendations for changes to prevent future deviations and will be reported to the 70th Legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 820, a proposed bill withdrawn on March 1, 2025, would have required Montana University System campuses to provide free on-campus parking permits to veteran and Montana National Guard service member faculty, staff, and students. It mandated that universities not charge parking fees for these individuals, give them preference in permit allocation, and require proof of service to qualify. The bill would have applied directly to eligible individuals at all Montana public universities, with university presidents allowed to establish specific implementation rules. This proposal never became law, as it was withdrawn before final action.