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 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 […]
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 […]
Schedule: Jan 23-25
January 23, 2023
Monday, January 23 Events Get together & Testimony Prep for those already in town 4:30 PM – 6:30PM MACD Office: 1101 11th Ave Drinks and light snacks will be provided. Tuesday, January 24 Events MACD Legislative Committee via Zoom 7:00 – 8:00 AM Those in town are welcome to attend the meeting at MACD CD […]
Public Comment on CD Budget – now on Jan 25th
January 17, 2023
Public comment on the CD Account Budget (within DNRC) will now take place on Wednesday January 25th (as opposed to the 23rd). In light of this, the CDAC meeting has also been moved. A detailed agenda for the 24th and 25th is forthcoming, as there are a number of meetings and events on those two […]
Upcoming events and hearings for conservation district funding as of 1/6
January 8, 2023
Jan 10: Section C (Natural Resources) Budget Committee – Presentation by CD River CouncilsJan 18-20: Section F (Long Range Planning) Budget Committee – Renewable Resource Grant Program (RRGL)Jan 23: Section C (Natural Resources) Budget Committee – DNRC Budget – MACD presents formal request for budget increase and districts testify in supportJan 24: CD Rotunda Day […]
Standing Committee Members named for 2023 Legislative Session
November 23, 2022
Standing committees (also referred to as Session Committees) are established each session in the rules adopted for each house of the Legislature. Standing committees meet regularly to hear bills on assigned subject matter. A standing committee plays a key role in the legislative process in the following ways: serving as the primary forum for face-to-face […]
Time to connect with and congratulate newly elected policymakers!
November 10, 2022
The 2023 Legislative Session is coming up quickly. MACD encourages all conservation districts to connect with and congratulate your newly elected policymakers! Of the 150 members of the Legislature, 125 of them will have just gone through an election: The House is made up of 100 members elected to 2-year terms. Montanans elect all 100 […]