Governor Gianforte signs HB 321 – CD Funding Bill
June 1, 2023
At the end of May, Governor Gianforte signed HB 321, which will create and, over the next 5-6 years fill, a $100 million trust for conservation districts. Starting in FY 2024, conservation districts will begin benefitting of interest accrued from the CD Fund. Funds will flow to the existing Conservation District Account, administered by the […]
HB 321 Passes the Legislature!
May 3, 2023
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 […]
Last day to support CD Funding through HB 321!
March 28, 2023
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 [...]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 […]