One Nation, Under God
One Nation, Under God
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HELENA -- A legislative committee has tabled a lawmaker’s attempt to clarify how private land is leased to oil companies. Speaker of the House Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, is the sponsor of House Bill 384, which would have revised language used on oil and gas leases to inform landowners of the associated costs of oil extraction from their land. Knudsen said leases tell landowners they will receive royalties from wells on their land. However, he said the oil industry tends to deduct transportation and operating costs from that royalty. That i...
HELENA -- The Montana Senate is considering a bill passed by the House 62-38 late last month that would provide partial forgiveness of student loans for farmers. Introduced by Rep. Zach Brown, D-Bozeman, House Bill 631 would repay up to half of a farmer’s student loans if he or she commits to farming or ranching for a minimum of five years. Student loan debt is a big issue facing our economy in general,” Brown said. “It’s holding back young professionals.” Brown said the issue is particularly relevant to the agriculture industry, which he...
HELENA -- A bill that could outlaw abortion by defining a fetus at any stage as a person passed the House last week. Introduced by Rep. Derek Skees, House Bill 595 would give Montana voters an option to approve a constitutional amendment that would define a person as "all members of the species Homo sapiens at any stage of development." "Every single life matters," Skees said. "From the moment of the first mitosis, to the last breath we draw before we get promoted." The bill was widely...
As Republicans and Democrats grapple with how to fund statewide infrastructure projects at the Montana Legislature, one bill in the House aims to put that decision in the hands of local voters. House Bill 577, introduced by Rep. Dave Fern, D-Whitefish, would allow cities and towns to adopt an infrastructure tax on luxury goods and services at a maximum rate of 4 percent. However, the tax would have to be approved by local voters. “House Bill 577 empowers our cities, towns and counties to solve their infrastructure problems,” Fern said. The bill...
After uncertainty about how the upcoming special congressional election would change the makeup of the Montana Legislature, the nomination of Democrat Rob Quist and Republican Greg Gianforte means it’s back to business as usual at the state Capitol. Multiple legislators had announced their intention to run for the vacant congressional seat after former Rep. Ryan Zinke was nominated and then confirmed as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The Democratic nomination ultimately went to to Rob Quist, a country musician from Cut Bank, while the R...
House hears infrastructure bill funded by gas tax The House Transportation committee heard a bill last week that would institute a new gas tax, which would go toward funding Montana road and bridge projects. House Bill 473, introduced by Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, is the latest bill to address Montana’s infrastructure, a subject named a priority by both Democrats and Republicans. “You’re not gonna see a report that says everything is wonderful, because it’s not,” Garner said. “And you’re not gonna hear another long term solution.” HB...
The Montana Legislature heard emotional testimony a bill last week that would include gender identity and sexual orientation in the state’s non-discrimination laws. Introduced by Rep. Kelly McCarthy, D-Billings, House Bill 417 would add LGBTQ-identifying individuals to a list of classes protected by the Montana Human Rights Act, meaning it would prevent them from being discriminated against when seeking housing, employment, and when using public accommodations. “I don’t know that discrimination is a privilege that’s worth defending with th...
A bill that would have abolished the death penalty in Montana was narrowly voted down in committee last week on a 9-10 vote. House Bill 366, sponsored by Rep. Adam Hertz, R-Missoula, would have replaced a death sentence with life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Hertz said the bill represented productive use of tax dollars, a pro-life philosophy from “conception until natural death,” and the notion of an offender’s redemption for their crimes. “I cannot in good conscience claim to be pro-life and support a system that takes innocen...
The Montana Legislature debated two bills last week that would give patients more of an active role in determining the cost of their health care. Senate Bill 100, introduced by Sen. Cary Smith, R-Billings, would allow patients the option of directly determining payment options with their doctor for day-to-day care without having to go through insurance. “This bill provides for the opportunity for an individual to go and talk to a doctor and say, ‘for a specific amount you will cover my basic health care needs,” Smith said. Smith intro...
Budget subcommittees proposed further cuts to Gov. Steve Bullock’s budget throughout the second week of the Montana Legislature. “If we can get through the budget and balance it, that will be probably all we can do,” said Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton. There is conflict between Gov. Steve Bullock’s proposed budget and what the Republican-dominated legislature says is a more fiscally responsible approach. Gov. Bullock proposed roughly $73 million in cuts, but Republican lawmakers are proposing cuts of roughly $120 million. Gov. Bullock...