Legislative Report

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 session. I always appreciate visiting with people from home.

This week started off fast with a 4H breakfast at 6:30 Monday morning. Senator Hinebauch and I got to enjoy the company of Morganne VanDyke and her parents from Glendive. There were some very impressive presentations by 4H members.

I dropped 3 bills in the Hopper this week. Northwest Energy asked me to carry a bill that would rectify an issue caused by an unfavorable court ruling. It will just reestablish a process so they and other energy companies can go before the Public Service Commission (PSC) and request that an acquisition or construction of an asset be allowed into their rate structure when it is producing. This allows them to secure financing knowing that they can start recovering their investment once it starts contributing.

Montana Association of Counties (MACO) along with Prairie County Commissioner, Todd Devlin, requested a bill to get some relief from the Department of Administration because of required expensive annual audits. The bill seeks to allow counties to reduce the scope and timing of audits and other reporting requirements based on financial complexity and kinds of funds received by the county.

The third bill requires the State of Montana to return about $1.4 billion of taxes collected in the current biennium ending 6-30-2023. By the end of this biennium, the State will have collected roughly $3 billion more than budgeted. The bill would return $1 billion of income tax and $270 million of residential property tax to Montana residents living here over 6 months per year. It would also pay off $100 million of long-term bonds. Many of us would like to return the entire amount of taxes collected in excess of our budgeted amount and of course some want to return none of it. There are many things it could be used for but it would seem to me that the proper way to pay for future needs is in future budgets.

The Appropriations subcommittee I chair heard the Department of Environmental Quality budget this week. Their primary work is permitting development sites, including residential, energy, mining and a number of other things. Next week will bring in the Department of Natural Resources.

The bulk of the bills crossing the floor this early in the session have been what’s called department bills, generally these clean up existing law. The Governor has made regulatory reform a top priority, with the Lieutenant Governor leading the charge. A couple of the Department of Transportation bills I carried were clean up bills.

We have a shortage of Pages up here. As mentioned before, high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply for this program and it is a great, up-front look at State government. Contact me to sponsor or just contact Montana Legislative Services, leg.mt.gov

Thursday night the 19th, we had about 200 people join us in The Old Supreme Court for the official launch of the Montana Freedom Caucus. Congressman Matt Rosendale gave a rousing presentation and detailed the recent leadership battle he helped lead. In the end the House Freedom Caucus was able to win many important reforms restoring rules that had been shelved by Nancy Pelosi. Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy and some of the other power brokers weren’t interested in relinquishing the chokehold on the House that Pelosi enjoyed. Due to a courageous stand by the House Freedom Caucus they prevailed and America won. The end result is a handful of representatives no longer have total control over the process. It is a great example of what a determined few can do.

As always, it’s an honor serving the good people of House District 37. Contact me at (406) 974-2478, leave a message at Capitol message center (406) 444-4800, or email Jerry.Schillinger@legmt.gov.