Rep. Mike Lang Montana Legislature Update

The 64th Montana Legislature is almost in the books. History will formulate the decisions that where made into a true factual scenarios.

I enjoyed the session Yes there were long hours, steep learning curves, enduring decisions. I supported and objected to bills that I feel are best for my constituents and Montana. Some have become law and many have not.

1187 bills were introduced, 592 died in the Senate and/or the House. The Governor has the final say on the remaining 595 bills.

I served on three House committees this session. In Business & Labor we heard 140 bills, 30 were tabled in committee, 14 died on the floor, 89 became law and 7 were vetoed by the Governor.

I was chairman of Federal relations, Energy and Telecommunication. We heard 42 bills, 12 were tabled, 5 died on the floor, 18 became law, 5 resolutions passed and 2 bills were vetoed.

In House Agriculture, Allan Redfield (formerly from Ophiem)chair, we heard testimony for 34 bills, 5 were tabled, 4 died on the floor, 24 became law and 1 was vetoed.

I personally want to thank all the constituents that contacted me before and during the season with their comments and concerns. It is good to know that so many are concerned. I especially want to thank Senator Brenden, SD 17 and Speaker Knudsen, HD 34 for their leadership during the legislature and their dedication to Montana.

Representatives Bruce Meyers, HD 32, Bridget Smith, HD 31, Stephanie Hess, HD 28 and Senator Kris Hansen, SD 14, voted with the concerns of NE Montana citizens.

The session saw many great ideas come forward. It depends on your point of view as to whether the results are favorable to you. Really it should be how things affect us all. We are all Montanan's, but there are many different views on situations.

One of the best ideas put in play by the legislature in the 64th session is a plan to study “statuary appropriations”. These are tax revenues that are spent by statute or law. The amount available for discretionary spending (12-15%) is typically limited to the difference between incoming revenue and the ongoing cost of state government (88-85%). The legislature in theory, has the ability to appropriate funds, but funds are tied in many ways.

I feel Montanan's need to be more efficient with our spending. We are 1 million people in a large area with heavy reliance on federal dollars and a small number of taxpayer base.

HB 2 provides spending direction to $10 billion biennium budget dollars. Forty two percent is appropriated to Health and Human Services, of which 71% of the dollars go to Medicaid and Health Services; Twenty six percent is for education, of which 74% of this is for K-12 and 24 % is higher education; Nineteen percent goes to Natural Resources and Transportation, of which 75% is for DOT; Seven percent goes to Law and Justice, of which 56% of this is used for corrections; the remaining balance is six percent, which is expended by our government agencies. The overall spending in HB2, includes a 3% annual growth in spending, with some departments getting more and some less.

Medicaid expansion, HB 405, has been initiated. I would have preferred to go a little slower and step into ankle deep water and cover 15000 citizens in need. However, we wholly jumped into the medicaid pool. We are there now and must work the program through and make it work for all of Montanan's.

We passed $100 million on infrastructure. Senator Brenden and Speaker Knudsen spent many hours working towards infrastructure. HB 402 by Knudsen was tabled early and then he pushed for SB416 by Brenden. The fact is we could not get these bills passed. They would have added more infrastructure for our area.

HB 356, put $1million into enhancement of career and vocational/technical high school education. It is a great plan to give students a look into potential careers earlier in there education process. I hope our local schools use this program.

I was very involved or carried, in a committee or the House floor, the following legislation: HJ 11, resolution for Montana to support the Keystone Pipeline; HB 188, define responsibilities for range fire damage, will help local Rural Electrical Cooperatives; HB 578, is to include the NE Montana Veteran Memorial at Fort Peck on the official maps of Montana; HB 414- reduce costs on temporary worker vehicle license plates and make things easier for County Treasurer's; HB 206, small change to make MT grazing districts more efficient; HB 390, clarify code on formation of agricultural advisory committees; HB 61, revise outdated railroad law in Public Service Commission code; SB 193, reorganize State liquor store commissions; SB 181, puts board of outfitters approval in front of Senate for confirmation; SB 368, transparency program for pipelines in Montana; SB 393, electronic driver license renewal, should help local people, not electronically inclined, to get more personal service; , SB 176, establish State Soil, Scobey Series, all growing things start with the soil; SB 232, put Supreme Court decisions on stream access into code.

SB 284, by Brenden, was vetoed. This bill would have directed the FWP to work with local county commissioners if they plan to put wild bison into a county. Hopefully, there has been a commitment by the state to be more cordial and respectable to local concerns because of the large support of this bill.

SB 261, a Montana law to keep the management of sage grouse in the hands of Montana's could be a good program and off the endangered species listing. I have concern and will fight for keeping the agriculture and natural resources industries functioning with minimal affect from the USFW. This bill sets up a MT Sage Grouse Team which will develop plans to keep local control, not federal, of the species. This was not done with the wolf and the grizzly bear and was an initial mistake. Sage grouse habitat in Montana is in good shape, but we are included in with the 11 western states. We know that locally, mother nature and predation are big issues when addressing sage grouse populations. We hope that this bill will help direct the BLM resource management plans.

We must all stay involved with our government, there are concerns and challenges, we must all accept responsibility.

During the interim I will be serving on the sage grouse and the Economic affairs committees. Please contact me at [email protected] or 406-654-7357 with your concerns. I appreciate your support and respect your involvement.

I again want to thank Senator Brenden for his dedicated service to Montana and especially, eastern Montana. A special thanks to his wife Carol, also.

Term limits will keep the Senator from participating in the next election. I wish to serve the citizens of SD 17 and will be pursuing your votes and support for this position.

Thank you, God Bless America, Montana, you and your families.