The 62nd Legislature officially adjourned last night. It was a rocky last week for the tourism industry. During the break, a budget deal was negotiated between the Republican leadership in both houses and the Governor’s Office. After the break, the HB 316 Free Conference Committee HB 316 added the lodging tax back into HB 316 along with the metalliferous mines license tax. This HB 316 amendment was then coordinated with language in SB 329, the funding bill for K-12 Education, if the amendments to HB 316 failed then the schools would not receive the full inflationary amount that they were required to get in statute. After an initial rejection of the amendments to HB 316 by the House, the measure was eventually passed by both houses with the lodging tax amendments included.
The legislature now has 5 days to get all of the bills that passed to the Governor for his consideration. Once the Governor receives a bill, he then has 10 days to decide one of several options available to him; he can veto the bill, sign the bill or allow the bill to become law without his signature. There are approximately 225 bills somewhere in this process.
In the end, the legislature took no action on the Legislative Fiscal Division’s revised projections that the revenue estimates for the next biennium could be increased by an additional $26.8 million and failed to pass HB 439 a state bonding bill which would have included funds for the new Historical Society Montana Heritage Center Museum.
As the legislators return home it is a great time to thank them for their service in the legislature. Additionally it is never too early to start an ongoing dialogue with them about the importance of the tourism and film industry as they listen best to their constituents.
Highlights for the week:
HB 111 (Stahl): Improving tax administration by depositing state agency lodging tax in gen fund. Passed the legislature and should be transmitted to the Governor for his consideration. This bill simply redistributes the way lodging tax paid by state agencies is disbursed.
HB 316 (Cook): A bill to redistribute certain revenue and income to state general fund- including 10% of the lodging tax. As mentioned above, passed with the 10% lodging tax reduction for 3 years included and is on its way to the Governor for his consideration.
HB 317 (Cook):Sunset statutory appropriations over certain periods. This bill passed the legislature and should be transmitted to the Governor for his consideration. As stated in the fiscal note, it assumes statutory appropriations end, but the funding necessary to continue the applicable programs will be included in future versions of the general appropriations act (HB 2). Therefore, if the bill were to be signed in its current form, during the next legislative session, all of the lodging tax funded programs would need to be included in the Executive Budget HB 2 for the second year of the biennium.
HB 370 (Squires): Increase motor vehicle fee for state parks and Virginia & Nevada Cities. This bill was transmitted to the Governor for his consideration.
HB 375 (Cook): Reduce certain general fund transfers. This passed the legislature with a slight decrease in funding for the Parks Division. It should be transmitted to the Governor for his consideration.
HB 439 (Hollenbaugh): General obligation bonds for state government. As mentioned above, this bill failed to get the 2/3 vote in the House which it needed to pass. This bill would have provided the Historical Society with $23 million to build the new Montana Heritage Center museum.
The chart below is for introduced bills that may have direct impact on the accommodation tax or issues important to the tourism and film industry.
When looking at the status of a bill on this chart, here are some helpful hints:
Referred to committee means the bill has been assigned to the committee, but the hearing date has not been set.
Hearing means a hearing is scheduled.
* after status indicates the bill is probably dead
Total number of Introduced Bills - 41
Total number of Introduced and Unintroduced Bills - 94
Bill Type - Number
LC Number
Primary Sponsor
Status
Status Date
Short Title
HB 2
LC0119
Walter McNutt
(S) Returned to House Concurred in Governor's Proposed Amendments
04/28/2011
General Appropriations Act
HB 5
LC0122
Jon C Sesso
(H) Signed by Speaker
04/21/2011
Long-range building appropriations
HB 9
LC0126
Galen Hollenbaugh
(H) Signed by Speaker
04/21/2011
Cultural and aesthetic grants
HB 98
LC0419
Jeffery W Welborn
Chapter Number Assigned
03/25/2011
Direct proceeds from sale of state parks; deposit in state parks spec. rev. fund
HB 111
LC0230
Wayne Stahl
(H) Transmitted to Governor
04/26/2011
Improving tax administration by depositing state agency lodging tax in gen fund
HB 196
LC0662
Pat Connell
Chapter Number Assigned
04/21/2011
Provide that Dept. of Commerce assist local gov't with fed land management props
HB 225
LC0179
Jeffery W Welborn
Chapter Number Assigned
04/08/2011
Clarify environmental review requirements for snowmobile trail programs
HB 258
LC1919
Champ Edmunds
(H) Signed by Speaker
04/26/2011
Revise definition of guest ranch
HB 270
LC0835
Steve Lavin
Chapter Number Assigned
04/01/2011
Provide for Trooper Haynes memorial highway
HB 316
LC0527
Rob Cook
(H) Sent to Enrolling
04/28/2011
Redistribute certain revenue and income
HB 317
LC0970
Rob Cook
(H) Signed by Speaker
04/26/2011
Sunset statutory appropriations over certain periods
HB 370
LC1833
Carolyn Squires
(H) Transmitted to Governor
04/27/2011
Increase motor vehicle fee for state parks and Virginia & Nevada Cities
HB 375
LC0525
Rob Cook
(H) Returned from Enrolling
04/28/2011
Reduce certain general fund transfers
HB 439
LC0443
Galen Hollenbaugh
(H) 3rd Reading Not Passed as Amended by Senate
04/28/2011
General obligation bonds for state government
HB 458
LC1886
Jeffery W Welborn
(H) Transmitted to Governor
04/26/2011
Revise laws related to outfitting and net client hunter use
HB 477
LC2117
Roy Hollandsworth
(H) Signed by Speaker
04/18/2011
Revise lodging facility use tax allocation to Montana historical society
HB 528
LC2152
Frank Smith
Chapter Number Assigned
04/08/2011
Revise laws regarding cowboy hall of fame
HB 559
LC2187
John Esp
(H) Transmitted to Governor
04/26/2011
Generally revise health laws for seasonal establishments
HB 577
LC1223
Wayne Stahl
(H) Signed by Speaker
04/18/2011
Revise taxes by removing tip income for workers' compensation purposes
HB 607
LC1974
Jeffery W Welborn
(H) Transmitted to Governor
04/26/2011
Clarifying procedure for sale of B10 nonresident big game combo licenses
HB 621
LC2199
Duane Ankney
(H) Signed by Speaker
04/28/2011
Revise aquatic invasive species laws and provide appropriation
HB 632
LC1241
Janna Taylor
(S) 2nd Reading Indefinitely Postponed*
04/12/2011
Use spendable portion of coal sev. tax to pay down UAL in PERS, TRS, SRS, GWPORS
HJ 1
LC0414
Mike Milburn
(H) Filed with Secretary of State
03/24/2011
Resolution urging federal legislation removing wolf from Endangered Species list
HJ 2
LC0205
Roy Hollandsworth
(H) Missed Deadline for Revenue Bill Transmittal*
03/30/2011
Revenue estimating resolution
HJ 4
LC0561
Ken Peterson
(H) Filed with Secretary of State
03/10/2011
Resolution opposing designation of national monuments without state's consent
HJ 32
LC1258
Pat Connell
(H) Signed by Speaker
04/28/2011
Resolution to study state parks, recreation, heritage programs
SB 3
LC0245
Bob Hawks
Chapter Number Assigned
04/15/2011
Require state agencies to report on heritage properties
SB 43
LC0417
Jim Keane
Chapter Number Assigned
04/20/2011
Revise the primitive parks act
SB 118
LC0767
Larry Jent
Chapter Number Assigned
04/14/2011
Revise laws on leasing of outfitter/guide equipment to include contracting
SB 144
LC0176
John Brenden
(H) Tabled in Committee -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
03/25/2011
Revise laws governing translocation of bison; prohibit free-roaming bison
SB 174
LC2008
Gene Vuckovich
(H) Returned to Senate Not Concurred in Governor's Proposed Amendments
04/28/2011
Prohibit state funds for movement or relocation of bison to Spotted Dog WMA
SB 179
LC1702
Art Wittich
Chapter Number Assigned
04/18/2011
Memorialize trooper David Delaittre
SB 213
LC2083
Gene Vuckovich
Chapter Number Assigned
04/18/2011
Designate Montana Highway 1 Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
SB 253
LC1694
Bob Lake
(S) Returned from Enrolling
04/20/2011
Eliminate certain individual and corporation tax credits
SB 291
LC1639
Ryan Zinke
(H) Tabled in Committee -- (H) State Administration
03/18/2011
Disclosure of state publications and media expenses
SB 301
LC2086
Rick Ripley
(H) Tabled in Committee -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
03/25/2011
Moratorium on land purchases by dept. of fish, wildlife, and parks
SB 338
LC2147
Ron Arthun
(S) Returned from Enrolling
04/26/2011
Revise laws regarding certain officials and public service announcements
SB 343
LC1877
Verdell Jackson
(H) Tabled in Committee -- (H) Appropriations
04/19/2011
Revise Montana aquatic invasive species act
SB 411
LC2197
Ron Erickson
(S) Transmitted to Governor
04/26/2011
Revise administration of tax interest, penalties and delinquencies
SJ 6
LC0589
Alan Olson
(S) Filed with Secretary of State
04/11/2011
Resolution regarding federal land use policy
SJ 16
LC1598
Tom Facey
(S) Missed Deadline for Interim Study Resolution Transmittal*
04/20/2011
Study resolution on increasing passenger rail in Montana
"Probably Dead" is a Bill Progress Category, and is assigned to those bills that have been voted down or missed a transmittal deadline, and to those bill drafts that have been canceled.
To revive a bill that is "probably dead" typically requires a supermajority vote (usually a 2/3 vote) by the House or Senate.
Your active participation is critical to assure that the tourism and film industry has a voice at the table. Please stay involved!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I will do a final session wrap up next week.
Until then…
Anna Marie Moe
Acting Division Administrator
Montana Promotion Division amoe@mt.gov
MONTANA PROMOTION DIVISION
PO Box 200533 •
Helena MT 59620-0501
406.841.2870 • 406.841.2871 (fax)
