Legislative update

“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 way government does business, can be proud of. Along with Governor Greg Gianforte, we set many policy and fiscal goals at the beginning of the Session, that we were able to deliver on.

Our primary constitutional duty is to pass a balanced budget. We created the most responsible budget in many years. The budget featured increases of about 1.25 percent per year, which is below the rate of inflation and population growth. While adequately funding necessary State government responsibilities, we were able to reduce in a balanced approach, real property and business equipment taxes as well as income taxes. Total tax reductions of about $120 million, will help poise Montana’s economy for a strong recovery by putting these $ back in the pockets of taxpayers to spend as they wish.

We were able to pass many important freedom reforms including 2nd Amendment, protecting Life, digital privacy, and other civil liberties. We also safeguarded many aspects of our cherished Montana outdoor way of life. This was accomplished by reforms to FWP, public lands and wildlife management. This included expanding the FWP Commission and diversifying its composition. A more balanced approach to predator control, addressing impacts on wildlife and livestock as well as the safety of our citizens, was a result of several important pieces of legislation.

A number of important healthcare reforms were able to be authorized as well. Direct Primary Care, telehealth, and healthcare savings pools are successful programs that were made permanent. We were able to eliminate unnecessary certificates of need for such things as home healthcare, letting entrepreneurs and local markets determine the need and how to address it. Schools now have more flexibility in determining educational progress and utilizing tools to aid in individual learning. Education will also see a jump in broadband capability.

Big issues that dominated the closing weeks of the Session, were of course allocation of Federal ARPA $ and recreational marijuana implementation precipitated by I-190 passed by voters. I think we did a good job of setting up the necessary framework for getting ARPA funding in the hands of local governments, schools and contractors to quickly begin to put these $ to work. Marijuana was definitely not an easy issue to tackle. We sent a bill to the Governor that was a definite improvement over I-190 that would have taken effect had we not passed legislation.

In the coming weeks, as more information becomes available, I will try to put together reports to share that information, especially as it relates to ARPA regulations that continue to come down from the Fed and marijuana implementation. Like it or not, we are likely to see more big government legislation coming down from the Fed. Whatever the impact, I’ll try to relate what it might be here in Montana and how your legislature may be involved.

Many thanks to the local papers that have helped me in trying to get important developments out to you the citizens about what’s been happening in your legislature that affect every day Montanans.

I just got home today (Saturday), it’s nice to be home and like all of us I’m sure, looking forward to a soaking rain!

For Freedom,

Representative Jerry Schillinger