Legislative update from Rep. Loge

We have processed most of the red tape reduction bills the governor promised were coming our way, at least in the House.

Passing the tax rebate, income tax refund and equipment tax million dollar exemption have been accomplished in the House are will most likely be on the Senate agenda this coming week. The state workers pay plan came around early in the session and as predicted, was passed out of the House this week to move on to the Senate. With inflation up and the state having trouble finding enough people to fill this worker shortage, an increase that comes from the pay plan advancing should help resolve some of those problems.

One bill that come back from last session to help with workplace safety was a slight variation of the "move over" legislation. The bill that passed through the house this week was the requirement to move over for highway maintenance workers and utility workers. The addition of these two classifications of workers was very justifiable due to the fact they are in very dangerous positions along the highways trying to performs services that add to your traveling safety. This bill is also on its way to the Senate.

This next week there are still many House bills that will come across dealing with topics like suicide prevention, education types and funding, fish and game issues, to just name a few. We will also be seeing the Senate bills come our way this week. We have a few more weeks until transmittal with only about one more week to introduce new bills. Keep posted on the Montana Legislature website.

— Rep. Denley M. Loge, R-St. Regis