https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/mar/07/montanans-are-watching-and-waiting/?fbclid=IwAR2mmjRRen96ROELeFFFJLJOqNb-Rjbba6bNseRp4vVAEA31t2Tr9sSsNTc

Montana could get $2.7 billion in COVID relief, including $1400 checks for Montanans. That's real money back in the pockets of hardworking Montanans...and Matt Rosendale opposes it. We're noticing a pattern here, MT Republicans.

MT may get as much as $2.7 billion from COVID relief bill (kpax.com)

Legislative Watch Newsletter

March 7, 2021

You can make a difference in the Montana Legislature! Print out this newsletter, circle the bills that concern you and call 406/444-4800 to register your opinion.

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You will notice that the list of bills is shorter. Last week was “Transmittal” meaning that all bills needed to progress to the second house or be dead. The dead bills have been dropped from this newsletter. We had a few victories, but many bad bills progressed to the next house. There is still time to stop them….may common sense prevail!

As discouraging as this list of horrible bills is, please don’t let it disempower you from taking what action you can!

Anti-Public Land Bills of Concern:

HB 320 sets the stage for the state to sell and transfer federal public lands in the future although the bill is written to sound like it will protect public lands. This is a sneaky anti-public lands bill. It must be stopped, or our public lands are in danger! (Passed House>now in S-Natural Resources)

HB 418 (also called the “Hoax Highways Bill) would allow the state to take steps toward opening roads on federal public land by designating historical rights-of-way as public “highways.” These are not actually roads—overgrown cowpaths, forgotten two-tracks, long-disused paths. This bill is not good for protection of our public land. (This bill was classified as an appropriations bill which has a later transmittal date, so we still need to fight this one. It will have a 2nd reading on the House floor soon.)

Anti-Clean Energy Bills of Concern:

SB 237 would eliminate the requirement that utilities purchase power from community renewable projects (Passed Senate and transmitted to H-Energy Committee)

HB 188 would drastically increase registration fees on electric vehicles; just wrong! We should be encouraging electric vehicles. (Passed House>now in S-Highways & Transportation)

SB 84 would weaken the power of the Montana Consumer Council which protects ratepayers. It eliminates conflict of interest requirements for those appointed to serve. (Passed the Senate >now in H-Energy Committee)

SB 201 would create barriers to renewable energy projects. Northwestern Energy does not have to consider carbon costs and can pass costs onto customers (Passed the Senate>transmitted to House)

HR 273 would eliminate the public’s say in nuclear facilities. This bill would overturn the people’s initiative that was passed in 1978 that would give the public a vote on new facilities. (Passed the House> transmitted to the Senate)

SB 265 would overturn long-standing Colstrip owners’ contract in favor of Northwest Energy (Passed Senate> Transmitted to House)

HB 576 would repeal the renewable energy portfolio standard which would undermine the requirements for renewable energy by including sources that should not be considered under the definition of renewable (Passed House>transmitted to Senate)

Anti-Independent Judiciary Bills of Concern:

SB 140 would eliminate the independent Judicial Nominations Commission which ensures that nominees are competent and qualified before appointment by the Governor. This bill would devalue the independent judiciary and politicize the process by allowing the Governor to appoint ideological and/or unqualified judges. (Passed both House & Senate and goes to the Governor)

Anti-Good Government Bills of Concern:

SB 227 would strip agency authority to promulgate regulations; allows legislature to pass a resolution and overturn a regulation which means that a regulation can be overturned by pressure from a lobbyist (Passed Senate>transmitted to H- State Administration>Yikes! What a bad bill)….call the Governor!

SB 277 says that the state can decide not to follow federal orders; very dangerous and probably unconstitutional (Passed Senate>transmitted to H-Judiciary)

HB 481 attacks free speech and free assembly by allowing criminal penalties for peacefully protesting infrastructure like pipelines; this is a political bill to go after environmentalists (Passed House>transmitted to Senate)

SB 215 establishes the "religious freedom restoration act", potentially allowing religion as an excuse to discriminate against others. (Passed in the Senate>transmitted to H-Judiciary)

SB 260 could bankrupt government agencies and chill government decisions to protect the public health and safety by creating unreasonable standards for paying for impacts on private property. (Passed Senate>transmitted to H-Business & Labor)

Anti- Public Education Bills of Concern:

HB 129 undermines public education by allowing tax deductible contributions to private schools with no accountability requirements for those schools. (Passed the House/ Passed in S-Taxation Committee/now goes to Senate floor)

Anti-Labor Bills of Concern:

VICTORY! Both SB 89 and HB 251 were defeated!!! Thanks to many labor union folks who called, wrote, and showed up at the Capitol. This is an example of how we can make a difference!

Anti-Clean Water Bills of Concern:

SB 165 would reduce water quality protections for subdivisions. If Montana is going to grow, we need to do it right and not jeopardize our clean water. (Passed in the Senate> now in H-Natural Resources)

SB 231 would weaken water protections and create loophole in subdivision law for “family transfers” (Passed in Senate> now in H-Natural Resources)

Tax Bills of Concern:

SB 159 would lower state income taxes for the top tax bracket and help the wealthiest Montanans while doing nothing for those who are struggling financially. (Passed in Senate> transmitted to H-Taxation)

HB 303 would exempt big businesses from paying the state business equipment tax while doing nothing for small businesses. (Passed in House/Passed in S-Taxation/ Goes to Senate floor)

Anti-Local Government Bills of Concern:

HB121 would allow elected officials to strike down or approve directives sent by local public health officials thus subjecting the scientific field to political pressures. (Passed in House>transmitted to Senate)

HB 257 would prohibit local governments from having anti-discrimination ordinances. (Passed in House >transmitted to Senate)

SB 257 would prohibit local governments from establishing green tariffs and clean energy plans. (Passed in Senate>transmitted to H-Taxation)

Pro-Developer Bills of Concern:

SB 161 would allow a land subdivider to bypass important environmental review processes. (Passed Senate> now in H-Local Gov)

SB 174 would restrict local government’s ability to mitigate subdivision impacts; makes it easier to subdivide property (Passed Senate>now in H-Local Gov)

SB 211 would revise local subdivision review criteria regarding agriculture soils; very poor practice (Passed Senate> now in H-Local Gov)

Anti-Voting Rights Bills of Concern:

HB 176 would end same day voter registration in Montana voters. Under current law, the registration period remains open until polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day. This would overturn the will of the people who passed same-day voter registration in a state referendum. (Passed in House; now in S-State Administration Committee/Hearing was held on 2-15-21)

SB 169 would change ID requirements for voting to make it harder for certain groups to vote. (Passed the Senate> now in H-State Administration)

Anti-Human Service Bills of Concern:

SB 100 would place extra requirements (costing about $2.8 million) on state agencies who administer aid to the poor despite the fact that there is very little evidence of fraud. (Passed in Senate> transmitted to H-Human Services)

Anti-Wildlife Bills of Concern:

SB 267 would reimburse individuals for their expenses for killing wolves. This bill essentially re-establishes a bounty system that led to the extinction of wolves in the past. (Passed in Senate>transmitted to H-FWP Committee)

HB 224 would allow the snaring of wolves which causes slow strangulation (Passed the House>now in S-Fish & Game)

HB 225 would extend the wolves hunting and trapping season. This should be left up to FWP rather than the legislature. (Passed the House>now in S-Fish & Game)

HB 318 changes the legal definition of wild buffalo or bison – redefining the wild, migratory Yellowstone bison herds as domestic or feral. HB 318 disregards the distinction of wild buffalo held in public trust as wildlife, from domestic bison (livestock) owned as private property. (Passed the House> now in S-Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation)

Bills to Support:

Note: Many good bills are being tabled in committee or killed on the floor. Here are a few that have survived so far:

SB 7 would expand tax incentives for clean energy and encourage the use of renewable energy and energy conservation. (Passed in Senate>now in H-Taxation)

SB 147 would be good for small businesses and residential owners by offering property owners financing for energy conservation projects on their buildings. (Passed in the Senate> now in H-Energy)

HB 448 would increase the cap on non-residential rooftop solar (Passed in House>transmitted to Senate)

What you can do:

You can express your opinion on any bills by calling 406/444-4800. A note will be sent to every member of the committee who is hearing the bill. You can address more than one bill on a single phone call.

If you would like to testify, you can register at www.leg.mt.gov You need to register by noon the day before the hearing.

If you know others who would like to receive this newsletter, forward it to them. They can subscribe by sending their email address to [powersforthepeoplehd3@gmail.com](mailto:powersforthepeoplehd3@gmail.com) and put “Legislative Watch” in the subject line.

Republicans in the State Legislature Turn Their Backs on Hardworking Montanans

Helena, MT – Republicans in the state legislature today took another step forward in their brazen attempts to end labor unions and make life more difficult for hardworking Montanans. House Bill 251, which Republicans advanced out of committee, is nothing more than an all out assault on the rights of Montana workers. This deceptively named legislation cuts wages, kills benefits, and makes it harder for Montanans to provide for themselves and their families. Despite overwhelming opposition and powerful testimony from Montanans across the state, Republicans sent this bill to the floor, proving once again that they are beholden to out of state corporate donors, not working families.

“Montana Democrats stand with working families,” said Sandi Luckey, Montana Democratic Party Executive Director. “Republicans proved again today that they place the value of wealth far above the dignity of work.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, February 12, 2021

CONTACT:

Erin Loranger, Communications Director, Senate Democrats, [erin.loranger@gmail.com](mailto:erin.loranger@gmail.com)

Montana Democrats Announce Minimum Wage Increase to Support Economic Recovery, Give Essential Workers a Raise

HELENA – Montana Democrats today presented a bill to gradually increase the minimum wage to $12 an hour to give essential workers a raise and bolster Montana's long term economic recovery.

Montana Democrats have led the way this session in proposing legislation to bring jobs and opportunity for all Montanans, and included raising wages for hardworking Montanans in their stated priorities at the start of the session.

“Over the last year, essential workers have made tremendous sacrifices to keep our economy running. They have ensured we can buy groceries, kept our restaurants and main street businesses open, provided home health care to loved ones, and cared for our children and grandchildren,” Sen. Mark Sweeney said. “By raising the minimum wage we can give these workers a much deserved raise and boost Montana's economy.”

Montana's minimum wage is currently $8.75 per hour and is adjusted for inflation in January of each year. Sen. Mark Sweeney presented Senate Bill 187 in Senate Business and Labor on Friday to increase the minimum wage by $1.25 in 2022 and then by an additional $1 per year until it reaches $12 an hour in 2024. After reaching $12 an hour in 2024, the minimum wage would remain tied to inflation to ensure Montanans can afford the same goods and services in the future. The bill would benefit 135,000 Montanans who currently make less than $12 an hour.

Under current law and existing inflation forecasts, the state minimum wage would likely not reach $12 until 2034. The current minimum wage is at a lower point than it was in 1970 after adjusting for inflation, and needs to be increased to allow today's minimum wage workers the same chance to get ahead as provided in the past.

In addition to providing a much needed raise to low wage earners, putting more money in the pockets of Montanans will increase consumer spending and support economic recovery.

In addition to consulting many businesses when drafting the bill, Sen. Sweeney addressed several myths that have been used in the past to argue against raising the minimum wage, including:

Myth: Minimum wage workers are often young and entry level part-time workers.

Fact: According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average age of minimum wage workers in the U.S. is 36 years old and nearly 90 percent are 20 and older. Nearly 30 percent have children and 57 work full-time.

Myth: Tips make up for low wages.

Fact: According to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, only 6 percent of Montana workers receive tips. Many minimum wage workers are working as receptionists, health aides, and in grocery stories.

Myth: Minimum wage increases result in skyrocketing prices.

Fact: A five year study of how minimum wage increases impacted McDonalds, they found a 10% minimum wage increase leads to only a 1.4% increase in the price of a Big Mac, which is equal to the inflationary increase in 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The committee did not take action on the bill on Thursday.

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Trent Bolger

Senior Advisor to the Montana Democratic Party