An update from Rep. Ingraham

On Wednesday, April 24th, the 63rd Legislative Session came to an official end and we all headed back home to renew friendships and reunite with family. For some, like myself, it was a bitter-sweet moment in time, even though my term of service in the House of Representatives won’t officially come to an end until the first part of January 2015, it was my last Legislative Session unless the Governor were to call for a special session.

While the media has reported on many of the issues that came before the Legislature this session, such as school funding, gun bills, and taxes, I thought I’d touch base on a few closing numbers which are less new worthy, but which were a part of the overall legislative business at hand.

Out of 2218 draft bill proposals, 1201 were actually introduced this session. Of these 1201, 364 failed in the House and 261 failed in the Senate. As of April 26th, five House Bills (HB) and seven Senate Bills (SB) became law even though the Governor had not signed the legislation. Those bills were: HB 104 - Criminalize offenses involving death to an unborn child; HB 226 - Exempt computer professionals from overtime pay; HB 278 - Reduce waiting period to use bear license after purchase; HB 371 - Revise county public auction laws (one of the bills I introduced); and, HB 469 - Allow arbitration for disputes relating to construction liens; SB 3 – Repeal legislative internship program; SB 43 - Revise laws relating to reports of alleged abuse at the Montana Development Center; SB 111 – Revising the apportionment of certain highway construction funds; SB 128 – Revise when unemployment insurance rates not affected by benefits paid; SB 182 – Generally revise automobile dealer franchise laws; SB 252 – Generally revise irrigation district laws related to elections; and, SB 290 – Revise county zoning regarding notice of change of use. As of April 27th, 291 bills had been signed by the Governor with more yet awaiting his signature or veto.

Of the 19 bills I introduced this session, 13 of those bills successfully made it through the legislative process to a successful conclusion. Currently, HB 46 – Revise contribution limit for candidate exploratory campaign, HB 54 - Revise teacher’s retirement system administrative and tax qualification laws, and HB 120 – Generally revise election laws, are still awaiting the Governor’s signature. The remaining 10 bills have already become law, and include HB 38 – Transfer GIS duties to the State Library, HB 53 – Revise State Administration and Veteran Affairs statutory duties, HB 64 – Clarify requirements for report filings, HB 77 – Revise public assistance laws relating to counties, HB 194 – Revise gasoline and vehicle fuel tax fund laws, HB 195 – Revise laws related to taxation of certain forest land, HB 252 – Revise notary public journal storage to Secretary of State’s Office, HB 264 – Exempt senior citizens’ centers from operator’s license requirements (bingo license), HB 371 – Revise county public auction laws and HB 510 – Eliminate requirement for annual absentee forms (they’ll now be biannual).

The State Administration Committee, which I had the honor to chair, had 121 bills referred to it that we took action on. Of those 121 bills on which we conducted committee hearings, took executive action and passed on through the process, 25 were amended, 56 were transmitted to the Governor or filed with the Secretary of State, 2 were vetoed, 3 were involved in conference or free conference committees and 35 were tabled, postponed or died in process along the way.

Now on to another part of the process, the prioritizing of the 17 study resolutions that passed during the session. These studies are ranked by the legislature in order of their highest priority and then will be passed on to the interim committees over the next 18 months. Those study resolutions include: House Joint Resolution (HJ) 1 – study the structure and duties of the office of commissioner of political practices, HJ 2 – study of state/local government electronic records management, HJ 16 – study of the state-operated public institutions, HJ 17 – study resolution on state plans, HB 25 – study of the workers’ compensation and subrogation and other issues, HB 26 – study of water ditch/canal easements restatement process options, HJ 30 – study of benefits for veterans, Senate Joint Resolution (SJ) 3 – study of the Board of Pardons and Parole, SJ 4 – study of Virginia City, Nevada City and Reeder’s Alley, SJ 6 – study the impacts of Montana’s renewable portfolio standard, SJ 14 – study local government election procedures, SJ 15 – study public land management, SJ 20- study prescription drug abuse, SJ 22 – study family law procedure alternatives, SJ 23 – study the tax appeal process, SJ 24 – study military training applicability to civilian jobs and, SJ 26 – study commerce corridors along Montana highways.

Many of our state legislators will be assigned to interim committees to work on those study bills that are assigned to them in an effort to identify issues which will likely require future legislative attention, as well as review administrative rules within their individual jurisdictions.

My return home is bitter-sweet, bitter knowing one part of my service has come to an end, sweet in that I will be here for you on a more personal level. Once again we’ll have the opportunity for fellowship and lending a helping hand to one another as my service did not end with the session. I do look forward to hearing from you and being with you in the community once again.

Now it is your turn to “Keep in Touch” by contacting me regarding your questions or concerns. I can be reached via e-mail at pathd13@blackfoot.net, or call me at 827-4652 or by mail at P.O. Box 1151, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873.