Legislative update

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 problem we are attempting to rectify is agencies that basically ignore the law and administrate contrary to Legislative intent. This has been compounded by governors with agendas that conflict with the law. Apparently, Governor Gianforte was reluctant to relinquish that wrongfully assumed power. We passed a bill to ease the requirements in the law mandating extreme consequences for firearms in student vehicles parked at school. Currently, there is little wiggle room for schools to take into consideration the circumstances of the situation, hunting season, for example.

I was able to present on the Floor, a resolution of support for the Keystone Pipeline. This was brought in the Senate by Steve Hinebauch. We even managed to gain the support of a couple Butte Democrats for this important project. Wolves always elicit passionate debate when bills come up. SB 314 permits individuals to harvest more wolves than currently allowed in areas that are over recovery quotas. There are currently several western districts that this is the case. Ranchers and wildlife need some relief.

SB 172 was passed on a party line vote, to establish religion as an essential service. This would prohibit banning religious gatherings in the event of future emergency declarations. In addition, we passed bills that will curb governor's power to unilaterally continue states of emergency indefinitely. There also are some new restrictions on emergency type spending a governor can do without legislative participation.

We passed a great bill that will eliminate a host of expensive permits that local taxpayers have been forced to pay State agencies in- order for the county road departments to open and maintain gravel pits used for roads. This will allow thousands more taxpayer $ to go on the roads rather than being sent to Helena.

Another good bill codifies a practice that has been operating successfully already. The Pine Hills Youth Facility in Miles City was being underutilized for years as a result of policy changes relating to youth corrections. With a staff of over 100, it was only being populated by less than 20 residents. It now has been expanded to serve young, non- violent adults. This policy not only better utilizes this fine facility, but also helps open- up some prison space to take the pressure off over- crowded local jails.

Our legislative week came to an abrupt, unexpected end, when we were notified Thursday evening of no Floor session on Friday. Apparently due to a lobbyist testing positive for the CCP Virus and contact tracing, the leadership decided to postpone Legislative Day 73. Many of us showed up today to take care of other duties, such as this report. We were informed this afternoon that we may be out for a week. As of this writing much is up in the air. As you might imagine, Members are anxious to get our (your) business wrapped up so we can adjourn. There is a report that there is a lonely tractor waiting at home!

As always, I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve the good folks of H.D. 37! Call, text, email, regular mail your thoughts and ideas.

For Freedom, Representative Jerry Schillinger