Rep. John Fitzpatrick

Maddy summaryHB 182 creates a $5 million state grant program to fund capital projects, maintenance, repairs, and equipment for nonprofit senior citizen centers in Montana. The program directly affects nonprofit organizations serving residents aged 60+ who operate centers providing meals, education, or recreation (excluding housing facilities). Grants require a 1:1 matching contribution for projects over $25,000, with a maximum $250,000 per project and $350,000 total per county (capping two projects per county). Funding is appropriated from the general fund starting July 2025 and will expire June 30, 2031.

Maddy summaryHB 5 appropriates over $30 million for major repair and capital development projects across Montana state facilities, including universities, health departments, and government buildings, for the 2023-2025 biennium. It funds specific upgrades like roof replacements, heating system repairs, fire safety improvements, and electrical system modernizations at locations such as Montana State University campuses, the Department of Health facilities, and state prisons. The bill increases the value threshold for certain projects from $150,000 to $300,000 and authorizes transfers between state fund accounts to support these repairs. It directly affects state agencies managing public infrastructure by providing dedicated funding for essential maintenance and safety upgrades. The bill was enacted on June 19, 2025, after passing both legislative chambers.

Maddy summaryHB 851 proposes to create a new state agency called the Department of Health Services. This new department would take over specific human services functions currently managed by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. These transferred responsibilities include the administration of developmental disabilities services, mental health services (like the Montana State Hospital), chemical dependency services, and veterans' long-term care facilities. The bill also provides an appropriation for the new department, grants it rulemaking authority, and requires its contracts to include dispute resolution clauses.

Maddy summaryHB 911 revises Montana's definition of "public utility" to exclude certain large commercial energy users. Specifically, it creates a new exemption for legally separate entities owned by utilities that supply electricity to customers with monthly average loads of 20+ megawatts, provided they operate separately from regulated utilities and don't impact regulated customer rates. The bill requires these entities to maintain separate financial accounts and prohibits using utility assets to guarantee their debt. It also appropriates $15,000 for energy demand analysis by the Department of Commerce, with a 2026 reporting deadline. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and was not enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 579 would have required local governments, such as cities, counties, and irrigation districts, to establish and continually fund capital reserve accounts. To be eligible for grants and loans from programs like the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program, these local governments would need to deposit either 10% of certain water-related revenues or $5 per acre-foot for specific dam owners into these accounts. The funds in these accounts could only be used for infrastructure projects with an estimated cost of at least $50,000. This bill would also have made a local government's ability to fund these capital reserve accounts a consideration in prioritizing financial assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 485 sought to revise residential home construction contract laws. It proposed that an accepted bid in a residential home construction contract would constitute the total amount to be paid. This means a contractor could not increase the bid amount after it was accepted. However, this provision would not apply if the parties agreed in writing, before bid acceptance, that the bid was not the final amount. This bill would directly affect homeowners and contractors involved in residential construction agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 369 authorizes the creation of county road maintenance districts to maintain roads that were previously serviced by the county but owned by other entities. These districts can be formed when at least 66% of property owners in a proposed area petition the county commissioners. The districts are funded by assessing maintenance costs directly against the benefited properties within the district. The amount assessed by a district must then be subtracted from the county's general fund dedicated to road improvement or maintenance.

Maddy summaryHB 877, known as the "Montana Data Center Development Act," aims to encourage the development of data centers and other large electricity consumers in Montana. The bill clarifies the Public Service Commission's (PSC) role, stating it cannot prevent a regulated public utility from serving new large customers established after October 1, 2007, with an average monthly demand of 5,000 kilowatts or more. It allows the PSC to establish tariffs and regulatory processes for these services. Additionally, the bill appropriates $50,000 to market Montana as a data center location and assist developers in acquiring electrical generation resources.

Maddy summaryHB 756 revises the criteria for making recommendations for grants awarded under the Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program. This affects eligible entities like historic sites, historical societies, and history museums seeking funding for preservation projects. The bill adds new criteria for grant recommendations, including protecting a building's structure and utility systems, and the expected ongoing economic benefit to the state. It also requires projects to provide significant public access and use, and specifies that for-profit entities must provide a dollar-for-dollar match for grant funding received.

Maddy summaryHB 10 appropriates over $39 million for various information technology (IT) capital projects across multiple state agencies for the biennium ending June 30, 2027. It transfers funds from the general fund to the Long-Range Information Technology Program (LRITP) account to support these initiatives. The bill funds projects such as cybersecurity enhancements, system modernizations, and new business applications for departments like Administration, Corrections, and Public Health and Human Services. All funded projects require approval from the chief information officer and budget director for their design, implementation, and data security plans, emphasizing safeguards against unauthorized access and promoting data sharing among agencies.