Reviewing the 66th legislative session

The 66th Legislative Session adjourned Thursday, April 25.

Ahead of the Session, I heard my neighbors' messages: "We want a budget that is responsible, accountable and fair to the taxpayer."

The House Republicans set forth to reduce the size of the government by eliminating almost 200 full-time employees (FTEs) – saving over $10 million per year; to reduce the Governor's proposed spending; and to restore the Governor's cuts to essential services. One goal was to find waste in the spending of your tax dollars, including the elimination of government jobs that had been vacant for more than a year. Based on the funds available, we prioritized many critical programs while minimizing the tax burdens on Montana's families. We redirected wasted spending toward a proposal to provide rate increases for Direct Care Workers for the elderly and disabled; and the proposed Good Neighbor Authority Program allowing the state to cooperatively manage forests owned by the federal government, with the aim of reducing the number and severity of forest fires.

In the House Tax Committee, we tabled over half the proposed tax rate increases. These included taxes on fireworks; carbon taxes; luxury sales taxes; local options taxes; plastic grocery bags; and sales taxes on car rentals. We also tabled a bill to limit the ability of restaurants to distribute plastic straws. The House passed a Senate bill to increase the exemption of Social Security income for individual income tax. The Governor unfortunately vetoed this bill.

On the Second Amendment, we passed a bill to allow people with concealed carry permits to move to a difference city or county without having to notify local law enforcement, and to remove the requirement of providing a Social Security number when applying for a concealed carry permit. Both were signed by the Governor. Other gun rights' bills passed through the legislative process and await final actions and/or signatures.

Some pro-business and jobs bills passed through the legislature and have been signed by the Governor. These include an increased quantity of green timber that can be harvested by commercial permit; a reduced tax rate for certain oil production; and clarification of allowed and banned practices for pharmacy benefit managers. Other bills pending final signatures include the extension of funding to the Coal Board, and revision of the criminal code to combat organized shoplifting.

Our Montana military veterans' issues received high priority during the session. The Governor signed a bill to revise hunting privileges for Purple Heart recipients, and another to increase the amount of funds available from the Coal Tax Trust Fund for Veterans' home loan mortgage program.

A property rights bills is still in play. It declares that private water rights from a well or developed spring, where the diversion works are located on private property and is used for a state land lease, does not provide state ownership interest in the water. One of the most interesting and highly-participated-in bills was actually a House Joint Resolution urging the BLM to consider the overall impact of 18 allotments being altered out in the Missouri River Breaks. The resolution urges the BLM to deny bison grazing as proposed by the American Prairie Reserve. This was signed by the House Speaker April 16.

Some Pro-Life bills made it through the legislative process as well. The Senate President signed both the Montana "Born-Alive" Infant Protection Act, and the Provision of Required Information before an Abortion. Still pending are the Montana "Pain-Capable" Unborn Child Protection Act, and a bill to Generally Revise Human Trafficking Laws.

While most Republicans were leading the charge to reduce the cost of health insurance premiums and prescription drug costs, others focused on the Medicaid Expansion Reform. As I stated during the House Floor debate on the Medicaid Expansion bill, 64 percent of HD 80's voters said "NO" last fall to continuing this program. In the end, it passed, but with some work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults; enhanced asset testing; premium increases for long term beneficiaries; and a sunset date to re-evaluate program effectiveness.

On the education front, I sponsored a bill to provide support for rural school recruitment and retention which passed the House on second reading; however, it was not considered as a high-priority by the Appropriations Committee. This bill would not have increased taxes; only redirect funds currently on the books for a program that expired. Bills to fund career and technical education program in K-12 schools, along with creating a grant program to encourage work-based learning at school, both passed the House but were tabled in the Senate. The House Speaker signed a performance based education program to implement transformational learning. It's not yet been signed by the Governor.

The final budget for the biennium is set at $10.3 billion with about $210 million for the state to deal with emergencies or if revenues come in lower than expected. Our State's cash infrastructure projects totaled $273 million, and bonded infrastructure totals $80 million.

The Legislature's work was strengthened with your help. I've appreciated your input and testimony during the 2019 Legislature Session. It's my honor to serve as your House District 80 Representative and to help raise your voice. Thank you.