Keeping in touch
With transmittal deadlines behind us, Legislators, after returning from a few, very much appreciated days off spent with family and friends, again face a very hurried pace doing the peoples work, completing the 50th legislative day on Saturday, March 5th.
While there have been many bill-related issues making the news, mainly addressing the more controversial issues which divide our society, those bills working towards creating a more positive job environment in Montana seem to have fallen quietly like snow behind the scenes. And those bills are designed to help Montana in her economic recovery. A few of the job bills working their way through the process are: HB 100 – allow future legislatures to make an estimate of a bill’s impact on Montana’s businesses; HB 187 – create Montana jobs by requiring Montana-made wood products in road construction projects; HB 292 – amend Montana’s constitution to include our right to a clean and healthful environment and the right to an economically productive environment; HB 325 – eliminate class 8 business equipment tax; HB 334- workman’s compensation reform which will help reduce the cost of doing business in Montana; HB 479 – microbial coal allowing for a new industry to produce methane gas; HB 550 – establishing state authority over the regulation of greenhouse gasses preempting costly federal mandates detrimental to Montana job growth; and, SB 159 – revision of energy efficiency building codes.
Since the transmittal deadline is now behind us, the House State Administration committee, which I chair, will be addressing Senate bills passed onto the House for action. A few of those bills which we will be heard this week include: SB 3 - requiring state agencies to report on heritage properties; SB 34 - revising interim committees; SB 55 - implement the federal military and overseas empowerment act; SB 182 - eliminate two advisory units of the Board of Regents: SB 194 - revise electoral laws in Montana; SB 204 - increase the minimum number of signatures for qualifying Constitutional initiatives for the ballot; SB 227 - requires a report on advertising of state government services; SB 247 - clarify appointment of Montana Poet Laureate; SB 291 - disclosure of state publications and media expenses; SB 307 - require Legislative interim committees to allow public comment on privatizing state programs; HB 597 - revise the state public employee retirement systems (PERS); and, HB 513 - requiring the state to back transactions of state business in gold and silver coin.
For the Local Government Committee on which I serve, we have a few up and coming bills as well, such as: SB 117- coordination between counties, districts and federal government; SB 180 - substitute term criminal mischief damage for damage to rental property; SB 222 - revise qualifications for firefighters; SB 248 - allow additional members for county tax appeal board; SB 275 - revise laws relating to public cemeteries; SB 128 - exempt fire department emergency wells from permitting; SB 146 - regulate the use of private transfer fee covenants; and, SB 173 - revise laws regarding shooting ranges.
Finally, the Human Services Committee which I also serve on will have a few new bills coming before them too. They include: SB 132 - allow audiologist to sell hearing aids without a hearing aid dispenser license; SB 176 - prohibit qualified health plans from covering abortion services through exchange; SB 189 - revise pharmaceutical authority to administer influenza vaccine; SB 210 - provides penalties for certain communications for dangerous drug prescriptions; SB 224 - require legislative action for grant application for patient protection act; and, SB 241 - revise the calculation of physician reimbursement or Medicaid services.
If you’re interested in more detailed information on any of this legislation, or if you want to track the progress of any House or Senate bills, you can do so by going to the Montana Legislative Website at: http://www.leg.mt.gov. Or if you don’t have Internet access to the website and are still interested in more information on a particular bill, please contact the Sanders County Clerk and Recorder at (406) 827-6922, 1111 Main Street ort PO Box 519, Thompson Falls, MT 59873. Jennine Robbins and her staff will assist you in your inquiry.
For those of you who are interested in statistics, I want to share with you some information, current as of March 4th, regarding the activity of bills and resolutions which have been introduced this session. In the State House of Representatives, there are 141 active bills, 44 bills which are tabled, 167 bills which have failed and are probably dead with 258 House bills passed to, and active in the State Senate. In the State Senate there are 73 active bills, 28 tabled bills, 87 bills which have failed and are probably dead with 218 Senate bills passed to, and active in the House of Representatives. To date, the Governor has signed 4 house bills.
I can be reached during the session by leaving a message for me at (406) 444-4800, by e-mailing me at pingraham@mt.gov, or by visiting the legislative branch website at www.leg.mt.gov and clicking the Contact a Legislator link. Instructions are provided for sending me electronic messages. You also may mail your comments to me at Representative Pat Ingraham, Capitol Building, P.O. Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620-0400.
by Rep. Pat Ingraham