An update from Rep. Nicholas Schwaderer
<p>Nicholas Schwaderer converses with former District 14 Representative Gordon Hendrick during the Superior Bobcat semifinal football game.</p>
We are getting towards the last days of the session, four weeks left until we conclude the people’s business and do not convene again until 2015 unless a special session is called.
As we hit various deadlines around now, a slew of bills are being transmitted to the House from the Senate and vice-versa and legislators are scrambling to get their bills through in time. Here are some updates on a few of those bills.
HB 574 by Rep. Edmunds, a bill to create a small herd exemption for sale of fresh milk, passed the House 96-3 and is transmitted to the Senate.
HB 302, a bill to prevent enforcement of any Federal firearms bans, passed both Houses and was vetoed by Governor Bullock.
SB 175, a bill to update school data systems, provide property tax relief and tie some school revenue to oil & gas taxes passed the Senate and was transmitted to House Education.
HB 581, a bill to simplify Montana’s tax code (we have one of the most complex) by eliminating many tax credits, code clutter and lowering the overall income tax rate passed the House with bipartisan support 67-33.
HB 522, my bill to prohibit state cooperation with federal officials regarding indefinite detention, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously after passing House Judiciary and the House Floor unanimously and is one vote away from the Governor’s desk.
HB 523, my bill to lower Montana’s corporate income tax rate to make us more competitive to bring in more businesses and jobs passed House Taxation, House Floor and was killed in House Appropriations.
HB 605, my bill to help update resort area district laws (St. Regis is a resort area district) passed the House 98-2 and was transmitted to the Senate.
HB 11, the grants from the Treasure State Endowment Program which included money for Alberton’s Wastewater project passed the House 95-1.
HB 637, my bill to reappropriate lottery revenue to the TRS system, will be heard this week. In 1985 the people of Montana voted in by referendum the creation of a state lottery for purposes of providing funding for education & TRS. In 1995 the legislature went back on the will of the people and reappropriated all lottery income towards general revenue. This bill seeks to undo that act and also help protect taxpayers and teachers from a growing unfunded liability.
It will be a very busy four weeks, hopefully the legislature will remember that this government is your government and continue to work hard for the people of Montana.