MACo LEGISLATIVE UPDATE VOLUME 24, NO. 5 JANUARY 21, 2017 MACO & THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE The Montana Association of The Montana Association of Counties’ website has a section dedicated to helping members th Counties (MACo) publishes this keep track of the happenings during the 65 Montana Legislative Session: weekly bulletin containing http://www.mtcounties.org/legislative/sessions/2017/2017-legislative-session. In this section, summary descriptions of bills of you'll find MACo’s resolutions, links to pertinent bills, the current and past issues of our weekly interest to local government Legislative Update, hearing calendars, committee listings, legislator contact information, and officials. Each issue lists only the more. bills that have been introduced during the week. Please save this message or print it for future 2017 PROJECTED SESSION CALENDAR reference. As adopted by Legislative Council—December 8, 2016 Previous issues of the MACo Please note: Legislative leadership holds the authority to further revise the schedule, Legislative Update can be found on including the days the Legislature meets and the proposed breaks. our website’s legislative page. In accordance with 5-2-103, MCA, each regular session of the Legislature convenes on the Copies of bills are sent to County first Monday in January of each odd-numbered year or, if January 1 is a Monday, on the first Clerks & Recorders and can also Wednesday. be found here. Introduction deadlines: Generally, bills and resolutions must be introduced within 2 legislative days after delivery. JR 40-50, H40-10. CONTACTING LEGISLATORS “General bills” is used to denote all bills, except appropriation or revenue bills, and all joint resolutions. Legislative Services Division Phone: (406) 444-3064 Notes: Deadline dates are determined according to legislative days. Fax: (406) 444-3036 Certain bills and resolutions relating to administrative rules may be transmitted at any time Mail: PO Box 201706 during the session. JR 40-200(3). Helena, MT 59620-1706 Jan. 2: 65th Legislative Session begins (Senate & House convene at noon.) Senators Jan. 17: Last day to request General Bills & Resolutions Fax: (406) 444-4875 Jan. 24: Last day to request Revenue Bills Mail: P.O. Box 200500 Helena, MT 59620-0500 Feb. 18: Last day for Committee to request General Bills & Resolutions Feb. 23: Last day to introduce General Bills Representatives March 1: Transmittal of General Bills to other Chamber & Last day to request Fax: (406) 444-4825 Mail: P.O. Box 200400 Appropriation Bills Helena, MT 59620-0400 March 2-5: Transmittal Break March 22: Transmittal of Revenue-Estimating Joint Resolutions & Last day to Many legislators have their own request Study Resolutions email addresses, which can be found here. March 24: Last day to request Bills proposing Referenda or for Committee to request Revenue Bills; Last day to introduce Appropriation & Rev. Bills & Bills Proposing Referenda CONTACTING MACO March 30: Transmittal of Appropriation Bills, Revenue Bills & Bills Proposing Referenda; Last day to request Committee Bills to implement HB 2 Phone: (406) 449-4360 Fax: (406) 442-5238 April 6: Transmittal of amendments to General Bills Email: [email protected] April 14-17: Break Mail: 2715 Skyway Drive April 18: Transmittal of amendments to Appropriation Bills, Revenue Bills, Helena, MT 59602-1213 Revenue-Estimating Resolution, and Bills Proposing Referenda Web: www.mtcounties.org April 20: Transmittal of amendments to Revenue Estimating Joint Resolution April 24: Transmittal of Interim Study Resolutions April 29: Sine Die April 30: 90th Legislative Day – Sine Die. 65th Legislative Session MACo Legislative Update Page 1 SCHEDULED HEARINGS Currently Senate Local Government Committee meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3 p.m. in Room 405. The House Local Government Committee meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. in Room 172. MACo bills are highlighted green, priority bills are highlighted blue (bills we are watching very closely or with which we may have some involvement), and watch bills are highlighted yellow (bills that are on our radar). MONDAY, JANUARY 23 Time Committee Room Bill No. Short Title Sponsor Create offense related to assault on 9:00 AM (H) Judiciary 137 HB 268 James O'Hara (R) HD 27 healthcare and emergency providers 9:00 AM (H) Judiciary 137 HB 277 Revise speedy trial laws for felony offenses Matt Regier (R) HD 4 Provide option for drug treatment on a 9:00 AM (H) Judiciary 137 HB 278 Matt Regier (R) HD 4 deferred sentence Provide for suicide prevention among Jonathan Windy Boy (D) 3:00 PM (H) Appropriations 102 HB 23 American Indian and rural youth HD 32 Kimberly Dudik (D) HD 3:00 PM (H) Appropriations 102 HB 64 Revise child abuse diversion project laws 94 3:00 PM (H) Education 137 HB 178 Provide ANB funding for 19 year olds Jean Price (D) HD 24 3:00 PM (H) Education 137 HB 66 Revise school funding related to facilities Amanda Curtis (D) HD 74 Request study of funding for education 3:00 PM (H) Education 137 HJ 1 Kathy Kelker (D) HD 47 programs for special needs students Provide deadline for treatment plans and Kimberly Dudik (D) HD 3:00 PM (H) Human Services 152 HB 173 permanency hearings 94 3:00 PM (H) Human Services 152 HB 244 Revise definition of elder abuse Tom Jacobson (D) HD 21 Revise laws for filing of exempt water right Bradley Hamlett (D) HD 3:00 PM (H) Natural Resources 172 HB 110 claims 23 3:00 PM (H) Transportation 455 HB 144 Generally revise motor vehicle laws Zach Brown (D) HD 63 3:00 PM (H) Transportation 455 HB 213 Revise motor vehicle license plate laws Jeff Essmann (R) HD 54 3:00 PM (H) Transportation 455 HB 241 Revise unattended motor vehicle laws Alan Doane (R) HD 36 3:00 PM (H) Transportation 455 HB 267 Revise laws related to bicycles on roadways Frank Garner (R) HD 7 (S) Education and Cultural Allow Indian language immersion program 3:00 PM 422 HB 113 Edward Greef (R) HD 88 Resources funds to be used as matching funds (S) Education and Cultural Edith (Edie) 3:00 PM 422 SB 124 Extend school district bond term Resources McClafferty (D) SD 38 Adopting the most recent federal laws Jacob Bachmeier (D) HD 3:00 PM (S) State Administration 335 HB 39 applicable to the National Guard 28 Allow Dissemination of Confidential 3:00 PM (S) State Administration 335 HB 40 Kim Abbott (D) HD 83 Criminal Justice Info to Adjutant General (S) State 3:00 PM 335 SB 127 Revise public officer vacancy laws Mary Moe (D) SD 12 Administration Revise the effective date provisions for the 3:00 PM (S) State Administration 335 SB 131 Fred Thomas (R) SD 44 Montana medical marijuana act TUESDAY, JANUARY 24 Time Committee Room Bill No. Short Title Sponsor Revise handgun laws pertaining to federal 8:00 AM (H) Judiciary 137 HB 246 Randy Brodehl (R) HD 9 property Remove certain items from conceal carry 8:00 AM (H) Judiciary 137 HB 251 Kirk Wagoner (R) HD 75 laws Generally revise concealed carry regulations 8:00 AM (H) Judiciary 137 HB 262 Bill Harris (R) HD 37 for legal gun owners 8:00 AM (H) Judiciary 137 HB 273 Generally revise concealed weapons laws Barry Usher (R) HD 40 Establish an angel investor/venture capital 8:00 AM (H) Taxation 152 HB 187 Jim Hamilton (D) HD 61 tax credit Enact a Small Business Growth 8:00 AM (H) Taxation 152 HB 188 Jim Hamilton (D) HD 61 Encouragement Act 65th Legislative Session MACo Legislative Update Page 2 TUESDAY, JANUARY 24 (CONCLUDED) Time Committee Room Bill No. Short Title Sponsor Extending veterans' exemption to property 8:00 AM (H) Taxation 152 HB 224 Tom Jacobson (D) HD 21 used or leased by organization Constitutional amendment to establish 8:00 AM (H) Taxation 152 HB 242 Tom Jacobson (D) HD 21 natural resources trust fund (S) Business, Labor, and Revise insurance laws pertaining to NAIC Jacob Bachmeier (D) HD 8:00 AM 422 HB 120 Economic Affairs accreditation 28 (S) Business, Labor, and Casey Schreiner (D) HD 8:00 AM 422 HB 122 Revise Board of Realty Regulation Economic Affairs 26 Revise sunset dates related to funding of Margaret (Margie) 8:30 AM (H) Business and Labor 172 SB 56 prescription drug registry MacDonald (D) SD 26 Ballot Interference Act - restrict collection 9:00 AM (H) State Administration 455 HB 212 Jeff Essmann (R) HD 54 of absentee ballots Revise partnership filing due dates to match 9:00 AM (S) Taxation 405 HB 42 Kim Abbott (D) HD 83 federal tax filing due dates 9:00 AM (S) Taxation 405 SB 130 Revise tax increment finance laws Dick Barrett (D) SD 45 Eliminate income taxes on social security 9:00 AM (S) Taxation 405 SB 76 Dee Brown (R) SD 2 benefits Prohibit the application of foreign law in 10:00 AM (S) Judiciary 303 SB 97 Keith Regier (R) SD 3 state courts Authorize necessary measures to 1:30 PM (S) Finance and Claims 303 SB 95 Llew Jones (R) SD 9 implement House Bill 2 3:00 PM (H) Agriculture 137 HB 256 Revise legal fence laws Casey Knudsen (R) HD 33 Allow livestock loss reimbursement for 3:00 PM (H) Agriculture 137 HB 286 Ray L Shaw (R) HD 71 mountain lion predation Extending termination date for statutory 3:00 PM (H) Appropriations 102 HB 261 Frank Garner (R) HD 7 appropriation to public libraries Revise funding for food and agriculture 3:00 PM (H) Appropriations 102 HB 284 Dennis R Lenz (R) HD 53 development centers Kimberly Dudik (D) HD 3:00 PM (H) Appropriations 102 HB 46 Generally revising funding for civil legal aid 94 Establish holistic defense pilot project within Kimberly Dudik (D) HD 3:00 PM (H) Appropriations 102 HB 89 state public defender system 94 Steve Hinebauch (R) SD 3:00 PM (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks 152 SB 84 Extend the