Legislative Update Volume 26, No
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MACo LEGISLATIVE UPDATE VOLUME 26, NO. 16 APRIL 25, 2021 MACO & THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE The Montana Association of The Montana Association of Counties’ website has a section dedicated to helping Counties (MACo) publishes this weekly bulletin containing members keep track of the happenings during the Montana’s Legislative Session: click summary descriptions of bills of here to go to our policy pages. In this area of the website, you’ll find MACo’s resolutions, interest to local government links to pertinent bills, the current and past issues of our weekly Legislative Update, officials. Each issue’s hearing schedule lists only the bills that hearing calendars, committee listings, and more. have been introduced during the week. 2021 PROJECTED SESSION CALENDAR Previous issues of the MACo AMENDED BY LEADERSHIP APRIL 16, 2021 Legislative Update can be found on Note: Legislative leadership holds the authority to further revise the schedule, including the our website’s policy section or click days the Legislature meets and proposed breaks. here for direct access to the In accordance with 5-2-103, MCA, each regular session of the Legislature convenes on the first archive. Monday in January of each odd-numbered year or, if January 1st is a Monday, on the first CONTACTING LEGISLATORS Wednesday. Introduction deadlines: Generally, bills and resolutions must be introduced within 2 legislative LEGISLATIVE INFO DESK (406) 444-4800 days after delivery. JR 40-50, H40-10. “General bills” is used to denote all bills, except appropriation or revenue bills, and all joint resolutions. SENATORS Notes: Deadline dates are determined according to legislative days. Certain bills and Emails & Phone Numbers resolutions relating to administrative rules may be transmitted at any time during the session. P.O. Box 200500 Helena, MT 59620-0500 JR 40-200(3). - Committee Members Jan. 4: 67th Legislative Session Convenes (Day 1) - Leadership Jan. 19: Last day to request General Bills & Resolutions (Day 12) REPRESENTATIVES Jan. 26: Last day to request Revenue Bills (Day 17) Emails & Phone Numbers Feb. 17: Last day for Committees to request General Bills & Resolutions (Day 36) P.O. Box 200400 Feb. 20: Last day to introduce General Bills, ex. Committee Bills (Day 39) Helena, MT 59620-0400 March 3: Transmittal of General Bills to other Chamber & Last day to request - Committee Members Appropriation Bills (Day 45 – Halfway Point) - Leadership March 4-5: Transmittal Break CONTACTING MACO March 22: Last day for committees to request Revenue Bills, Bills Proposing Referenda, or bills to implement HB 2 (Day 56) Phone: (406) 449-4360 March 26: Transmittal of Revenue-Estimating Joint Resolution; and last day to request Fax: (406) 442-5238 Study Resolutions (Day 60) Email: [email protected] Mail: 2715 Skyway Drive March 29: Last day to introduce Appropriation Bills, Revenue Bills & Bills Proposing Helena, MT 59602-1213 Referenda (Day 61) Web: www.mtcounties.org April 2-5: Easter Break April 8: Transmittal of Appropriation Bills, Revenue Bills & Bills Proposing Referenda (Day POLICY ON OUR WEBSITE 67) The Policy section on our April 20: Transmittal of amendments to General Bills (Day 73) website is continually updated April 28: Last day to introduce Study resolutions (Day 79) with the status of MACo bills as April 29: Transmittal of amendments to Appropriation Bills, Revenue Bills, and Revenue well as the weekly schedule. Be Estimating Resolution, as well as Bills Proposing Referenda (Day 80) sure to bookmark it during the May 3: Transmittal of amendments to Revenue Estimating Joint Resolution (Day 82) session! May 6: Transmittal of Interim Study Resolutions (Day 85) May 13: Sine Die (Day 90 = End of Session) th April 30: 90 Legislative Day – Sine Die. 67th Legislative Session MACo Legislative Update ⬧ Page 1 M O N T A N A A SSOCIATION OF C O U N T I E S | L EGISLATIVE U P D A T E | 2021 | 67TH S ESSION SCHEDULED HEARINGS The Senate Local Government Committee (Senate LGC) meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3:00 p.m. in room 405. The House Local Government Committee (House LGC) meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. in room 472. MACo bills are highlighted green, priority bills are highlighted blue (bills in which we have active involvement), and bills we are monitoring are highlighted yellow (bills that we are watching closely or on our radar—no active involvement). MONDAY, APRIL 26TH TIME COMMITTEE ROOM BILL NO. SHORT TITLE SPONSOR 8:00 AM (H) Judiciary 137 SJ 26 Interim study of the women's prison Diane Sands (D) SD 49 Increasing the cap on non-residential 8:00 AM (S) Conference 405 HB 448 Joshua Kassmier (R) HD 27 net metering systems 9:00 AM (S) Finance and Claims 317 HB 651 Generally revise ballot initiative laws Marta Bertoglio (R) HD 75 Revise funding for highway patrol 9:00 AM (S) Finance and Claims 317 HB 72 Frank Garner (R) HD 7 retirement system HPORS Revise laws related to land servitudes 9:00 AM (S) Free Conference 350 SB 354 Steve Hinebauch (R) SD 18 and easements Revise membership of the Montana 11:00 AM (S) Conference 350 SB 40 Janet Ellis (D) SD 41 Invasive Species Council (S) Energy and Interim study of Montana electric grid Christopher Pope (D) SD 11:00 AM 303 SJ 33 Telecommunications capacity 31 Generally revise emergency and disaster 11:00 AM (S) Free Conference 335 HB 230 Matt Regier (R) HD 4 laws TUESDAY, APRIL 27TH TIME COMMITTEE ROOM BILL NO. SHORT TITLE SPONSOR 9:00 AM (S) Free Conference 317 HB 2 General Appropriations Act Llew Jones (R) HD 18 Revise exempt well laws related to 9:00 AM (S) Free Conference 350 SB 231 Mark Blasdel (R) SD 4 family transfer parcels Interim study on residential property 9:00 AM (S) Taxation 405 HJ 36 Dave Fern (D) HD 5 taxes WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28TH TIME COMMITTEE ROOM BILL NO. SHORT TITLE SPONSOR Implement receipt of & approp. federal 9:00 AM (S) Free Conference 317 HB 632 Frank Garner (R) HD 7 stimulus & COVID recovery funds Study the funding of conservation Kenneth L Holmlund (R) 3:00 PM (S) Natural Resources 303 HJ 27 districts HD 38 3:00 PM (H) Agriculture 137 HJ 52 Study of pollinator population health Andrea Olsen (D) HD 100 THURSDAY, APRIL 29TH TIME COMMITTEE ROOM BILL NO. SHORT TITLE SPONSOR NOTHING POSTED AS OF YET. FRIDAY, APRIL 30TH TIME COMMITTEE ROOM BILL NO. SHORT TITLE SPONSOR NOTHING POSTED AS OF YET. 67th Legislative Session MACo Legislative Update ⬧ Page 2 M O N T A N A A SSOCIATION OF C O U N T I E S | L EGISLATIVE U P D A T E | 2021 | 67TH S ESSION 2021 MACO PROPOSED LEGISLATION MACo staff provides county elected officials with research/resources, training, technical support and services, and monitors legislation, as well as works with state agencies, legislators, and the Executive Branch in helping shape public policy. Below is the list of MACo proposed legislation for the 2021 Legislative Session. This legislation is the product of the MACo Resolutions that were brought forward by member counties and passed by an assembly of MACo members during the MACo 2020 Annual Conference. A resolution proposes to amend Montana law to solve a problem—meaning a resolution becomes legislation with the help of MACo Staff, Sponsor Counties, and Montana’s Legislators and Executive Branch. (Note: Red text indicates recent movement of the bill—within the last week.) MACO RESOLUTIONS & ASSOCIATED LEGISLATION BILL NO. SHORT TITLE RES. NO. SPONSOR STATUS Chapter Number Assigned Revise county leasing authority 2020-10 Marty Malone (R) HD 59 3/26/2021 HB 104 AN ACT REVISING A COUNTY'S AUTHORITY TO LEASE COUNTY PROPERTY INCLUDING PROPERTY LEASED FOR A DETENTION CENTER; ALLOWING A COUNTY TO EXTEND A LEASE TO 40 YEARS; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 7-8-2231 AND 7-32-2201, MCA. Revise prevailing wage district laws and Chapter Number Assigned 2020-09 Ken Holmlund (R) HD 38 dispatch city designations 04/22/2021 HB 201 AN ACT CLARIFYING THE CALCULATION OF ZONE PAY AND TRAVEL ALLOWANCES IN A PREVAILING WAGE DISTRICT; PROVIDING A DEFINITION; AMENDING SECTION 18-2-411, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Allow special district to receive funds from Chapter Number Assigned 2020-11 Brian Putnam (R) HD 9 federal revenue sharing programs 4/1/2021 HB 220 AN ACT ALLOWING SPECIAL DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING DIRECTLY; AMENDING SECTION 7-11-1024, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Revise laws related to maintenance district Chapter Number Assigned 2020-04 Bob Phalen (R) HD 36 assessments 4/1/2021 HB 268 AN ACT REVISING SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT LAWS FOR SANITARY AND STORM SEWERS; REVISING METROPOLITAN SANITARY AND/OR STORM SEWER DISTRICT LAWS; ALLOWING A COUNTY TO USE A TAX ASSESSMENT TO COLLECT OPERATIONAL COSTS INCURRED OR BILLED TO A DISTRICT; AND AMENDING SECTION 7- 13-141, MCA. (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading Clarify definition of bison 2020-16 Ken Holmlund (R) HD 38 4/26/2021 HB 318 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING WILD BUFFALO AND WILD BISON LAWS; CLARIFYING THE DEFINITION OF "WILD BUFFALO" OR "WILD BISON"; CLARIFYING THAT THE PER CAPITA FEE DOES NOT APPLY TO CERTAIN DOMESTIC BISON; AMENDING SECTIONS 15-24-921, 81-1-101, 87-2-101, AND 87-6-101, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." Chapter Number Assigned Revise renewable energy laws 2020-06 Tom Welch (R) HD 72 4/22/2021 HB 346 AN ACT REVISING PROPERTY TAX LAWS RELATED TO SOLAR PANEL SYSTEMS; CLASSIFYING UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR FACILITIES AS CLASS THIRTEEN PROPERTY; AMENDING SECTION 15-6-156, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.