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1-13-24 Representative Schillinger Reports, Happy New Year! We’re getting some good old fashioned January weather! My last report, was at the end of April as the end of the 68th Montana Legislature drew near a close. After an abrupt and unexpected motion to Sine Die (adjourn), was passed in the Senate on the 88th day of session, we in the House recessed, reorganized, took care of the business we were able to at that point, and voted to adjourn as well at about 10 p.m. that e...
4-29-23 By the time most of you read this, I hope to be home on a tractor or sprayer! Fortunately, Brett and Boomer are putting seeds in the ground while we wrap up business in the 68th Legislative Session. At this point, committee work is done for most members, leaving only Floor session work as the formal task. Of course, there is still a lot of behind-the-scenes lobbying going on for the policy bills still with unfinished business. On the appropriations side of the coin...
Where to start? It’s a rush to the end. Day 79 is in the books. It’s that point in the session when the can can’t be kicked down the road much longer. Typically there may be several bills that are similar in their mission to accomplish relatively similar outcomes. They all have a price tag, so the job becomes one of weeding out some or all, maybe parts of several bills becoming one. Just for fun, Friday evening, a couple of other reps and I, sat in on the Senate Finance and C...
I hope everyone had a Blessed Easter. Friday after a morning floor session, Appropriations Committee, and informal appropriations get together, we were out for Easter break! After a quick change of clothes, I jumped in my pickup and headed East. Thanks to longer days I was able to pull into home shortly after dark, where I was greeted by son Brett, granddaughter Bryn and grandson Keny. Keny brought a plate of treats he had prepared and got the tv prepared with a movie to...
4-1-23 Happy birthday Granddaughter Kass, six years old April 1! It’s been a full week, starting with the floor session last Saturday. Most days this week typically started at 7:15 or so with whip meetings, caucus meetings, or full Appropriations Committee meetings. This week Appropriations was every morning, break for floor sessions at one, then back to Approps after that. We typically went til six or seven, but Friday night broke at about nine p.m.. Saturday April 1 s...
3-24-23 Legislative day 56, Tuesday March 21st we convened our Floor session at 8 a.m. to begin presentation and debate on House Bill 2, which I described last week in some detail. HB2 is the State’s main operating budget for the coming 2024-2025 biennium, it was presented in five main sections A-E. I presented C, Natural Resources and Conservation. This budget consists of nearly 50% federal funds, primarily in Transportation and Department of Health and Human Services. T...
3-18-23 It was a privilege this morning, Saturday March 18, to attend the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. It wasn’t held last legislative session because of Covid. The organizers were especially excited because it was the first time since Governor Judy Martz, that a Governor has attended. Neither Schweitzer or Bullock chose to be a part of this great event during their tenures. This year former NFL player Phil Olson was the guest speaker and was very inspiring. Rep...
3-10-23 As noted last week, transmittal break began Friday March 3rd. Sunday afternoon I was able to attend a legislative forum in Miles City sponsored by their local Patriot Group. It was great to see a full house at the local VFW and be able to join Representatives Gregg Kmetz and Gary Parry. Great citizen questions and conversation was mixed with presentations by the legislators. It was nice to have a couple of quiet days at home before heading back on Wednesday. Thursday...
3-3-23 After a short morning floor session and 71 3rd reading bills, we adjourned the 45th legislative day and began transmittal break. First fun thing about this break is to knock out a short report then go take the Grandkids to the Flying Giant trampoline park before heading home tomorrow morning. I’m not going to attempt to cover all the issues covered this week but rather focus on three bills that hit close to home in HD37. First HB 569 dealing with sheriffs, highway patro...
2-24-23 President’s Day, Monday February 20th our floor session was dedicated to listening to our Congressional delegation. It was interesting to hear four different perspectives on the state of our country and their roles in Congress. Senator Tester’s comment about supporting the Keystone Pipeline that President Biden killed, was particularly interesting. He maintains his position that he supported it even though his vote was the deciding vote that killed Senator Daines ame...
2-17-23 This week saw appropriations section c wrap up business for this legislative session. We approved the budgets of our respective departments. The next step in the process will be for me as Chair to present these recommendations to the appropriations committee as a whole. At that point the recommendations can be accepted or amended and entered into House Bill 2, the big budget, for presentation to the entire House later in the session. As part of the Department of...
2-10-23 As predicted, the days of 90 or 100 – 0 votes on the floor are going to be fewer and fewer as the session goes on. Monday started off with HB252 by Karlan that would have created another $4,000,000 per year suicide prevention program in schools. These bills are of course always emotional, this actually came out of committee 18-3. It was exposed in debate as redundant and expensive and fortunately died 49-51. There is a rule called reconsideration that can be used to r...
1-3-23 This week started off with nasty roads for many returning to the Capitol from home, tis the season! One nice thing about being a greater distance from home, I tend to not be on the roads. Fish Wildlife and Parks was first up in subcommittee this week. One of the points of interest for Eastern Montana, especially Garfield County, was this will be the first year of a long term lease between the Little Shell Tribe and the Army Corp of Engineers. The Little Shell Tribe has...
1-28-23 January is quickly coming to a close! We capped off the week in Appropriations by passing out of committee several significant tax bills. A bill to increase the tax exemption on business equipment from $300,000 to $1,000,000 was passed on a party line vote with all Republicans favoring the increase. This will of course also impact local governments that will have to be backfilled by the primary source of revenue collected by the State, income taxes. This should help...
1-20-2023 I failed to mention last week, we enjoyed a visit to our appropriations subcommittee, from conservation districts across the State. Steve Wanderaas, McCone County and Dean Rogge, Garfield County were among those sharing about all the work districts do to enhance our many natural resources, primarily air, water and land. Doug Bonsell from Carter County was good to stop by the House Floor and say hi, while he was taking care of some legislative business earlier in the...
1-13-23 Friday evening already, another busy week in the bag. I may have failed to mention last week, I carried 2 bills for the Department of Transportation. The first bill I presented to the Transportation Committee was to simplify the reporting process individuals must go through to claim gas and fuel tax refunds for use in off road activities. Summaries of account activity generated by the retailer may be used as evidence of purchases rather than having to produce copies of...
January 6, 2023 - Swearing in kicked off the 68th session of the Montana Legislature. First of all, an apology. When the 67th session closed I wrote my last report. I intended to report interim activity periodically. One- and one-half years sped by and here I am in Helena one week in. In the meantime, the voters of House District 37 graciously reelected me to a 2nd term. Thank you! The interim was busy. I served on the Legislative Interim Audit Committee, the Natural Resources...
“Sine Die!”, declared Representative Brad Tschida, with that the 67th session of the Montana Legislature ended at about five P.M. Thursday, April 29th. Lots of hugs, handshakes and goodbyes ensued. In an informal presentation, I was awarded 2nd place for the most authoritative gaveling as chair of the day! Representatives Sheldon Galloway and Zolnikov, took it upon themselves to establish this prestigious award. The 67th Session is one that Montanans that wanted to change the...
This past week didn’t start until Tuesday, caused by the controversies noted in last week's report, ie. Virus, judges, etc.. Nonetheless, it turned out to be a productive week, with the Governor signing some important legislation into law: HB 163 expanding the Fish and Game Commission to seven members will allow better representation across the state. Additionally, I believe, we will send a bill to the Governor that stipulates that three of the seven members will be a...
We started off the week by rejecting a Senate amendment by Dan Salomon, that would have neutered HB112, banning guys from competing against girls in scholastic sports. This bill is headed for conference committee now and hopefully will come out in good form, be passed, and signed by the Governor. For the first time in over 20 years, the Legislature overrode a governor's veto. This bill reasserts legislative authority to enforce legislative intent on State agencies. The...
The legislature ended Easter week on Thursday afternoon, so we scurried home for a quick and appreciated couple of days at home. I got to enjoy a little wheat and pea planting, Easter Sunday services and catch a few fish at the lake before being Helena bound on Monday. My thanks to Son Brett and Haley for keeping the lights on while we’re in Helena. I can’t say enough about the support structure of family and friends, across the state, that pitch in and help to support our...
Monday, March 22nd House Bill 2, the main budget bill for the coming biennium, was presented out of Appropriations on the Floor for the body as-a-whole to consider. The chairs of the five appropriations subcommittees took turns presenting their portion of the budget. Representative Ken Holmlund did a fine job presenting for Section C, Natural Resources and Transportation. This is the subcommittee that I had the opportunity to serve on. This process took most of the day Monday...
Fifty- five legislative days of the 67th Montana Legislature are now in the history books. As a result of unprecedented amounts of Federal $ and Executive orders, this Legislature and Governor, is faced with decisions that will have momentous implications for generations to come. I would be remiss if I didn’t include Attorney General Austin Knudsen in this discussion as well. His office has already stepped up to push back on the Federal assault on State rights, most notably th...
This is a bit of a catch- up issue since I was loafing during the transmittal break. We were in session March 1 & 2, before a 5-day break. I enjoyed getting home and was also able to meet with a good group in Jordan, as well as Circle, while there. The over- riding concern among citizens, whether in these meetings or other modes of communications, is Federal overreach and what can we do to protect ourselves from an aggressive Fed. An example, North of Sand Springs, the BLM,...
Working day 45 is fast approaching and the pace is picking up. It appears likely transmittal break will begin after session on Tuesday the 2nd. We will have the opportunity to dash home for a short break and be back in session March 8th. This past week we saw some good bills pass the House and unfortunately, some, not get across the finish line. HB 415 is an example of a good bill that died, on a 50 – 50 tie vote, largely I believe, because of some misinformation on The F...
