Legislative Bulletin Weeks 5 & 6 - February 15, 2019 A COOL wave hit Helena this week Northern Plains and allies make the case for meat labeling orthern Plains Resource Council, along with allies from the Montana Cattlemeans Association and NMontana Farmers Union, testified before the Senate Agriculture committee on behalf of SB 206 – The Montana Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) Act. Former Northern Plains chairman and retired cattle rancher Walter Archer testified for Northern Plains. He told the committee that “beef and pork are the only products excluded from country-of-origin labeling. In 2016, the USDA allowed a loophole for beef and pork to be labeled “Product of USA,”, even if it is only processed or packaged here. Oftentimes, USA beef is mixed in with cheaper imported beef, misleading our Northern Plains member and retired cattle rancher Walter Archer gives a consumers and defrauding our ranchers. SB 206 attempts to compelling testimony in the Senate Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation close this loophole.” Committee hearing for SB 206 on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Northern Plains Affiliates take on the legislature! number of Northern Plains affiliates, which are our local chapters throughout the state, have organized A lobby days at the legislature. This week, members from Bear Creek Council and Dawson Resource Council worked the legislature. DRC members came all the way from Glendive to lobby legislators on COOL and C-PACE (more about those bills below). They had an extremely effective day, and our vote- count looks better after their work! Thank you, DRC for this effort! We look forward to upcoming affiliate lobby days from Carbon County Resource Council (Feb. 19) and Sleeping Giant Citizens Council (Feb. 27)! DRC members Bruce and Sue Peterson (center) speak with Sen. Steve Hinebauch (R - Wibaux, far left of photo) and Rep. Ken Holmlund (R - Miles City, far right of photo). Northern Plains Legislative Bulletin Feb. 15, 2019 Page 1 Members speak out Northern Plains Legislative Bulletin Feb. 15, 2019 Page 2 BILL POSITIONS BILLS WE SUPPORT HB 22: LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD FOR “smart meter” installed by a utility. Smart meters are an effective RENEWABLE ENERGY tool that allow consumers to monitor and control their energy usage through smartphones or computers. They also allow Sponsored by Rep. Laurie Bishop (D-Livingston), this bill utilities to track energy usage and make adjustments to conserve would extend the contract length for renewable energy projects energy. Smart meters are an essential part of the eventual to 25 years to make them more competitive for inclusion in creation of the “smart grid” of the future. Montana’s utilities’ energy portfolios—a necessary step to encourage the transition to clean, renewable energy. HB 22 HB 267 passed 2nd reading in the House of Representatives on is was heard in the House Federal Relations, Energy, and February 1. Telecommunications Committee on February 13. ⚠Take Action: Contact the committee and tell them to vote HB 271: REQUIRE OIL PIPELINES TO AVOID yes on HB 22! HERITAGE AND TRIBAL CULTURAL SITES Sponsored by Sen. Bridget Smith (D-Wolf Point). Similar to HB 118: GET THE LEAD OUT OF MONTANA SB 97, this bill would require a more thorough environmental SCHOOLS review of proposed pipeline projects, but it goes one step further in requiring that pipelines be routed to avoid identified Sponsored by Rep. Julie Dooling (D-Helena), create a grant heritage and tribal cultural sites. This bill was heard in the program to pay for removing lead from the drinking water in House Natural Resources Committee on January 30. Montana schools – an invisible but serious health threat to our children and our communities. We expect that the bill will be ⚠Take Action: Contact the committee and tell them to vote heard in the House Natural Resources Committee soon. yes on HB 271! HB 193: CARBON TAX FOR LARGE POLLUTERS HB 292: CONTINUE FUNDING THE COAL BOARD TO HELP COAL COMMUNITIES PREPARE FOR Sponsored by Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell (D-Helena), this bill would levy a $10/ton tax on carbon from sources emitting ENERGY TRANSITION 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon every year and would Sponsored by Rep. Barry Usher (R-Billings), this bill would use the revenue for economic development, fund health allow the coal natural resources account to continue funding initiatives, and bolster the general fund. Taxing carbon would monetary distributions to coal communities at 5.8% until 2023, put powerful market pressures on power plants to reduce their rather than drastically decreasing it to 2.9% this year. HB 292 carbon pollution and would be an important step forward in will allow the coal board to continue helping coal communities beginning to address climate change. There was a lively hearing adjust to the decline of the coal industry and transition to on January 31 in the House Taxation Committee. different energy and economic opportunities.. This bill was tabled in committee on February 8. This bill passed through the House Taxation Committee on February 8 and was heard by the full House of Representatives on February 13. HB 267: LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR SART METERS AND THE SMART GRID Sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov (R-Billings), this bill establishes the legal security framework necessary to protect consumers’ personal information if they choose to have a Northern Plains Legislative Bulletin Feb. 15, 2019 Page 3 BILL POSITIONS BILLS WE SUPPORT (Cont’d) HB 431: CREATION OF A MONTANA FARMER SB 189 : TAX CARBON FROM LARGE EMITTERS AND EDUCATIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE INCENTIVIZE INNOVATION IN CARBON-FREE PROGRAM PRODUCTION Sponsored by Rep. Zach Brown (D-Bozeman), this bill would Sponsored by Sen. Dick Barrett (D-Missoula), this bill would enact a student loan forgiveness program for Montana residents create a $10/ton tax on carbon from large emitters like power who pursue a career in farming or ranching after receiving their plants and refineries but allow for large emitters to offset their degree. HB 431 would revise Growth Through Agriculture laws taxes with investments in low- or carbon-free energy production and use interest income from coal severance tax funds to repay or manufacturing. SB 189 was heard by the Senate Energy up to 50% of a student’s loans. This bill was heard in the House Committee on February 7. Agriculture Committee on February 14. ⚠Take Action: The Committee is expected to take action ⚠Take Action: Contact members of the committee and tell soon. Contact committee members and tell them to vote yes on them to vote yes on HB 431! SB 189! SB 97: REQUIRE BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL SB 190 : REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS 100% BY 2050 REVIEW FOR OIL PIPELINES Sponsored by Sen. Mike Phillips (D-Bozeman), this bill Sponsored by Sen. Frank Smith (D-Poplar), this bill would would empower the Board of Environmental Review to create require a more thorough environmental review of major oil rules requiring Montana’s carbon dioxide emissions to be pipelines like the Keystone XL including evaluating impacts reduced 25% below 2010 levels by 2022, 50% by 2030, and on heritage sites. This bill was heard in the Senate Natural 100% by 2050. SB 190 was heard by the Senate Energy and Resources Committee on January 30. Telecommunications Committee on February 7 and was tabled in committee on February 12. This bill has been tabled in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. SB 191 : ALLOW COAL COUNTIES TO CREATE COAL TRUST FUNDS TO PREPARE TRANSITION SB 188 : ENSURE WIND AND SOLAR ARE ALLOWED TO COMPETE ON AN EVEN PLAYING PLAYING Sponsored by Sen. Duane Ankney (R-Colstrip), this bill FIELD IN ENERGY PROCUREMENT relates to counties with coal power plants and mines. SB 191 would allow those counties to create trust funds to be used to Sponsored by Sen. Sue Malek (D-Missoula), this bill would support local economies affected by energy transition. The funds create a resource procurement advisory committee that would would be taken from property tax revenue generated from the review, evaluate, and make recommendations on utilities’ energy counties’ coal plants and mines. procurement decisions to ensure that the process promotes the best interest of rate-payers and give all energy sources–wind and This bill was heard by the full Senate on February 15. solar included–a fair shake in the process.This bill was heard on Februray 14 in the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee. ⚠Take Action: Contact members of the committee and tell them to vote yes on SB 188! Northern Plains Legislative Bulletin Feb. 15, 2019 Page 4 — Handy pullout section — 2019 Montana Legislators HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES District Last Party City Email HD 1 STEVE GUNDERSON R LIBBY [email protected] HD 2 NEIL DURAM R EUREKA [email protected] HD 3 ZAC PERRY D HUNGRY HORSE [email protected] HD 4 MATT REGIER R COLUMBIA FALLS [email protected] HD 5 DAVE FERN D WHITEFISH [email protected] HD 6 CARL GLIMM R KILA [email protected] HD 7 FRANK GARNER R KALISPELL [email protected] HD 8 JOHN FULLER R KALISPELL [email protected] HD 9 DAVID DUNN R KALISPELL [email protected] HD 10 MARK NOLAND R BIGFORK [email protected] HD 11 DEREK SKEES R KALISPELL [email protected] HD 12 GREG HERTZ R POLSON [email protected] HD 13 BOB BROWN R THOMPSON FALLS [email protected] HD 14 DENLEY LOGE R SAINT REGIS [email protected] HD 15 MARVIN WEATHERWAX JR D BROWNING [email protected] HD 16 TYSON RUNNINGWOLF D BROWNING [email protected] HD 17 ROSS FITZGERALD R FAIRFIELD [email protected] HD 18 LLEW JONES