Legislative Report

This has been a busy week here in Helena. Some really good news about workman’s comp. HB 334 is moving through the Senate now and the Governer has resolved his issues with the bill. A little bit of good news on the property appraisal process as HB 567 has moved through the House. It extends the assesment review. We also approved HB 343 which starts a phase-in of zero-based budgeting for state agency budgets.

The two big issues that have taken top billing this week are over in the Senate. School funding now has three competing bills which need to be sorted out soon. The ideas of how to handle the gas and oil money from the east side, not wanting any tax increases, equalization of funds, and being structurally sound are all issues being addressed. Medical Marijuana repeal was tabled in Senate committee and a subcommittee is trying to come out with a bill to really restrict the use and growing of the drug. There’s lots of interest in the outcome.

In the agriculture committee the “code of the west” was heard along with a bill to resolve problems with patented or protected crops. We have several bison bills coming up. One to clarify regulation of bison and another about brucellosis surveillance. We also have a request for a study resolution on bonding requirements for agricultural commodities.

In education we are waiting to see what comes from the funding battle. We did hear a bill for buying co-ops for school districts.

In business and labor the big issue is putting an interim committee together to start work on a state or interstate health compact. It needs to be started by 2013 and in place by 2014. There is no need to set up an expensive new government program when national health care is changing frequently in Washington D.C. Health care is also headed to the supreme court.

Thank you for your messages. Contact me at dansalomon12@gmail.com or 253-9724.