HB 321 Passes the Legislature!

Last night HB 321 passed its final legislative vote in the House and is headed to the Governor’s desk! Governor Gianforte will sign HB 321 in the coming days. HB 321 passed in the final hours of the 2023 Legislative Session, as yesterday afternoon the Senate voted to sine die (adjourn the session), followed by a sine […]

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Montana Legislature working at historic levels

[This is a repost from Montana Legislative Services – April 10, 2023] The Montana Legislature is working at a pace not seen in at least half a century. As of Monday, April 10, lawmakers introduced 1,644 bills — a number second only to the number introduced in 1973. That year, the Legislature implemented the provisions […]

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Last day to support CD Funding through HB 321!

Tell the House Appropriations Committee to Support HB 321 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 […]

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Critical Action Alert! Tell the House Appropriations Committee to Support HB 321

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 […]

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HB 321 (CD Coal Trust Funding) will be considered in March

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 […]

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MACD participates in Senator Tester’s Farm Bill Listening Session

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 […]

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Action Alert: SB 28 (CD Funding)

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 […]

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HB 295 Passes House Unanimously and Transmitted to the Senate

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 […]

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CD Funding Update

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 […]

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