Critical Action Alert! Tell the House Appropriations Committee to Support HB 321
March 23, 2023
HB 321: Generally revise laws related to the coal trust (create trust to fund CDs) – Sponsored by Rep. Reksten HB 321 would benefit both CDs and school districts. HB 321 would create a trust for CDs (which would sit within Coal Trust). Over the next 5-6 years, this trust would fill to $100 million dollars, creating a permanent […]
HB 321 (CD Coal Trust Funding) will be considered in March
February 28, 2023
This morning, the House Appropriations Committee voted to bring HB 321 off the table and added a small amendment. You can read the amendment here, which would appropriate $1000 in additional grant funds to the Coal Board. This small change will mean that HB 321 now qualifies as an appropriations bill. Therefore, HB 321 will […]
MACD participates in Senator Tester’s Farm Bill Listening Session
February 28, 2023
Last week, U.S. Senator Jon Tester held a public in-person listening session in Havre to hear directly from Montana Ag producers, local leaders, and members of the public in preparation for negotiating the 2023 Farm Bill. Dean Rogge, MACD Board President, represented MACD on the panel, alongside other organizations like the Montana Farm Bureau Federation […]
Action Alert: SB 28 (CD Funding)
February 28, 2023
Critical Action Alert SB 28: Provide funding for conservation districts (from marijuana tax dollars) – Sponsored by Sen. Lang SB 28 will be up for a vote on the Senate floor this week (likely Tues or Wed). SB 28 is the bill that came out of the Environmental Quality Council (EQC) and would use marijuana tax dollars to […]
HB 295 Passes House Unanimously and Transmitted to the Senate
February 22, 2023
HB 295 (Revise Nepotism Laws Related to Small Communities) passed out of the House Local Government Committee unanimously, and went on to pass on the House floor unanimously. HB 295 is based off of Resolution 22-03 brought forward by Petroleum County CD and passed at the 2022 MACD Annual Convention. Petroleum Chair Jay King has […]
CD Funding Update
February 22, 2023
SB 28 (Marijuana Tax Funding) had a hearing on 2/13 and is awaiting Executive Action. Potential amendments are forthcoming. Section C – CD Budget: There was Executive Action on 2/17. Following guidance from the Budget Director’s Office, Section C approved an appropriate of +$750k in FY 2024 and +$1.5 million in FY 2025 (increased from […]
Call to Action: Please submit testimony on SB 28 (CD Funding from marijuana tax dollars)
February 10, 2023
Earlier today, SB 28 Scheduled for Senate Finance and Claims on Monday 2/13 at 3pm SB 28, which would provide additional funding for districts through marijuana tax dollars, was just scheduled for the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on Monday at 3pm. MACD is asking districts to email or call Senators on the committee, or [...]HB 321 Passes Committee Unanimously
February 9, 2023
During this morning's House Taxation Committee Meeting, HB 321 passed out of the Committee by a unanimous vote. HB 321 would create a fund for Conservation Districts in the Coal Trust, which would fill to a total of $100 Million over the next 5-6 years. The interest from this would provide a new, stable, and [...]Two key pieces of CD Legislation are in Committee this week. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
January 30, 2023
Comments from CD boards or individual supervisors will be critical to moving both bills forward! Critical Action Alert HB 321: Generally revise laws related to the coal trust A key Conservation District funding bill (HB 321) will be up in House Taxation on Wednesday (2/1) at 8am. If you would like to come to Helena to testify in […]
Upcoming testimony in support of CD Funding
January 24, 2023
January 25th: Testimony on CD Account BudgetThe Conservation District Budget will be in front of the Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (Section C) starting at 9am (time subject to change). This will be an opportunity for Conservation Districts to provide brief testimony in front of the committee. Not able to attend? Please sign up to testify via zoom or send […]