Legislature

Montana Health and Human Services Director Sheila Hogan cautioned lawmakers Wednesday about what decreasing funding to her department might mean for Montanans. “The budget will dramatically impair the services we provide to seniors, and those with disabilities in Montana, and compromise our ability to serve Montana’s most vulnerable community members,” she told members of the House Appropriations Committee during a hearing on House Bill 2, the main budget bill.

A bill to include modern-day bed-and-breakfasts in the state’s collection of bed taxes has passed the Montana Senate and will now make its way to the House Taxation Committee Thursday.

Halfway through the 65th Montana Legislature, the House Budget Committee has started work on the biennial state budget, the only duty that lawmakers are constitutionally required to finish before the session comes to an end.

House Bill 381, would allow school districts to create policies and procedures for suicide prevention and response specific to their communities.

Shouting “courage, not cuts,” a group of demonstrators gathered in downtown Missoula on Thursday night to urge state legislators to reconsider proposed cuts to the budget – cuts that could have far-reaching impacts on seniors and students.

The House of Representatives passed 17 bills on Tuesday, including one bill that would create a statewide public lands day. The bill, House Bill 491, sponsored by Rep. Virginia Court, D-Billings, passed on a narrow vote of 52-48.

While Democrats and Republicans at the Montana Legislature may disagree on the approach, they are both highlighting infrastructure and the budget as top priorities for the second half of the session.

Former lawmaker and now lobbyist Bob Gilbert of Sidney says after the transmittal break, he expects to concentrate on money: “Taxation bills, appropriations bills, anything that raises revenue. Or costs revenue,” he said.

Week 8 is in the books for the Montana Legislature, and reporter Michael Siebert has a detailed look back at the people, protests and major issues that dominated the agenda as lawmakers near the transmittal deadline and a brief break in the 65th session.

The 65th Montana Legislative Session has reached its halfway point, and the state budget still weighs heavy. Both Republicans and Democrats are working to reach a compromise on how to fund state programs, with battles over other policy happening simultaneously.