Legislators hear from constituents at Ronan forum

The six members of Lake County’s legislative delegation heard from constituents last Wednesday during a forum at the Ronan Community Center.

Around 80 people attended the event, which was sponsored by the Northwest Counties Farm Bureau, Lake County Republican Central Committee, Lake County Democrats and the Lake County Commissioners.

Moderator Buddy Cheff opened the forum with a reminder that “we’re all on the same team,” before introducing each legislator. Four are new to the job: Republican Representative Tracy Sharp, Democratic Representatives Thedis Crowe and Shelley Fyant, and Democratic Senator Jacinda Morigeau. Also on hand were Republicans Greg Hertz, who has served in the Legislature since 2013, first in the House and now in the Senate, and Rep. Linda Reksten, who was elected to her third term in November.

Crowe, whose district encompasses portions of both the Blackfeet and Flathead reservations, noted that 4,236 bills have been introduced since the session started Jan. 6 “so we’re moving through a lot of business.”  

Sharp also mentioned the overwhelming volume of legislation, especially for a freshman. “I'm still learning,” he said. “I've made some serious mistakes, but I've also got some good things done.”

One of the bills he’s gotten “across the floor” will provide state reimbursement to counties that hold people with mental health issues who are destined for state institutions. Currently, “the county gets zero money for that,” he said.

Several legislators addressed Medicaid expansion, with Hertz noting that 2025 marks the first session where he’s supported the expanded healthcare program for low-income Montanans, which otherwise would sunset this year.

Despite his reservations about the nation’s healthcare system overall – “the system’s broke” – he was unwilling to deny low-income people access to healthcare.

“We have a huge behavioral and mental health problem in this state,” he said. “Without Medicaid expansion, those people cannot get any services.”

He also noted that if the federal government significantly reduces the amount it contributes to the program (currently 90% of costs) “we will automatically be back in a special session.”

Sharp was the lone Lake County legislator who voted against Medicaid expansion, although he acknowledged that it was apt to gain the governor’s signature.

“It's not part of our Constitution to provide that sort of health care,” he said of his ‘no’ vote. “But I think the larger problem is our health care in this country is a mess from A to Z. And I would like to see that fixed.”

He also noted that it was important to have “sideboards” on the legislation regarding the cost-share with the federal government, otherwise “Medicaid is the only thing your state government is going to do.”

Crowe mentioned her support for several related bills: HB 383 would provide 12-month continuous Medicaid eligibility for caregivers; HB 185 would give continuous eligibility for children up to 5 years old; and HB 601, which would create an online portal for Medicaid applicants.

Morigeau, whose district covers the south half of the reservation and a bit of Missoula, noted that the Senate “has been a little bit slow on the giddy-up.” She mentioned her efforts to amend a voting access bill that allows students to use their school IDs to vote to include private colleges such as Carroll, in addition to those issued by the Montana University System.

“I feel like there's a lot of good bipartisan support for mental health in general coming through,” she said. “I'm really happy to and proud to stand up and reach across the aisle in support of that.”

She mentioned workers compensation-related bills that would allow physical therapists to become direct providers and offer benefits for first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders and injuries.

As a senior legislator, Hertz had already introduced 29 bills and expects to add another dozen “before things get done.” Among them are two local bills – one would allow Mission Valley Shrimp, grown in Charlo, to be served in restaurants, and another that would rename a section of Hwy. 93 the LaVerne Parrish Memorial Highway, in honor of the Medal of Honor recipient from Ronan.

Other bills would add $10 million to the Noxious Weed Trust Fund; require dental insurers to cover at least 80% of clients’ bills; and restrict people “from flying drones over your backyard,” unless it’s for law enforcement or other legitimate uses.

He’s also supporting a bill that would define short-term rentals as residential, which would enable local governments to regulate them.

Reksten highlights education bills

Reksten, who chairs House Education, said her committee has already considered 76 bills. “We've done some terrific work,” she said of the bipartisan group of lawmakers. “We've compromised on both sides to come up with some really good bills.”

She was most enthused about the STARS Act, a bill that would provide around $100 million to public schools, with at least 12% invested in raising salaries for beginning teachers to around $45,000 a year.

“McDonald's pays about that much,” she said. “I mean, is that scary or what?”

Other major bills would equalize school funding across counties, express support for “The Science of Reading” curriculum, increase funding for career and technical education, and encourage school districts to pool resources.

“We're trying to get people to work together and consolidate, focus on new, beginning teachers, and try and get our education system performing at the level it should be performing,” the former educator said.

Crowe mentioned her support for two other education-related bills, HB 499, a grant program called the Grow Your Own Teacher Pipeline, and HB 457, which would expand eligibility for the state's child-care scholarship program to include middle class families.

Fyant, whose House District 91 extends south from Round Butte Road in Ronan to the Upper Rattlesnake in Missoula, is a member of thee Montana American Indian Caucus (as are Morigeau and Crowe).

She’s introduced a bill that would increase the pension retired volunteer firefighters receive from $175 a month to $200. Another seeks $3 million from the general fund to develop a grant program through the Department of Agriculture to help food banks purchase meat, dairy, eggs and vegetables from Montana farmers and ranchers. She’s also promoting HB 545, which would transform the Missing Indigenous Persons task force into an advisory council, add the word “murdered” to the title, and include a homicide investigator.

A funding bill for Public Law 280, the law enforcement agreement between the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the State and Lake County that governs how felonies committed by tribal members are handled on the Flathead Reservation, will be carried by Hertz in the Senate and Fyant in the House. According to Fyant, “the Tribal Council and the County Commissioners have met several times and they agree on a plan moving forward.”

Efforts to bring down Montana’s high property taxes were also a topic. Legislation to address the issue includes HB 154, which would create a housing fairness income tax credit, House Bill 231, called the Homestead Rate Cut, and HB 155, which would shift a portion of the property tax burden to other types of taxes.

“Property tax relief is going to be very difficult because if I reduce your taxes by $1,000, that means somebody else's taxes are going up by $1,000,” said Hertz, who chairs the Senate Taxation Committee. “The only way you can really reduce property taxes is cut spending.” He’s also a longtime sales tax proponent.

Fyant suggested raising taxes on centrally assessed entities, such as power companies, telecoms and railroads. “If they had to pay a fairer share of taxes, then I think we could even that out and take a lot of the burden off of the residential and the commercial,” she said.

Constituents raise issues

One constituent brought up a bill to regulate vape products, and said it would potentially decimate her two local businesses that employ nine people.

“Big Tobacco is trying to come in and make their product the only product that people have to choose from,” she said. “And they have 20 lobbyists helping out.”

According to Hertz, the registry would certify “whether these products are harmful or not harmful” and tax those products that contain nicotine.

One member of the audience expressed concerns about efforts to weaken the Montana Environmental Protection Act (MEPA), particularly house bills 466 and 285, and another voiced opposition to HB 64, which he said “sets out to repeal the nutrient water quality standards in the state.”

Fyant, Crowe and Morigeau said they opposed attempts to diminish environmental protections.

“I want my grandchildren and my great granddaughters to be able to enjoy the Montana that I did growing up. So, gotcha,” Fyant said.

Crowe pointed out that reservations have their own water-quality standards and would not be impacted by state laws in that regard.

“I think that what some of these MEPA bills are looking at is we need good quality environmental protection, but we also need to make sure that they're not using particular laws to shut down things like expanding a water treatment facility up around Lakeside,” Hertz said.

Legislators, who each acknowledged that there’s too much money in politics, especially at the federal level, were encouraged to support two bills that seek to rein in campaign spending, HJ 11, which died on the House floor by a 50-50 vote, and SR 4, which is still alive.

The Lake County delegation reminded members of the audience to stay in touch through the remainder of the session, and each said they pay particular attention to letters and calls from constituents.

Sharp said hearing from locals on particular issues has actually caused him to change his vote, “because that's what I do is represent you. And so hearing from constituents is critically important.”

Crowe passed out an informative handout on how to track legislative actions, watch and participate in committee hearings, and contact legislators. She also brought a handful of legislative guides, filled with “some cool and handy stuff.”

“I always like to look at resources and tools and get those out to the public, so we can encourage your participation in the process,” she said.

    Stephanie Brancati voiced her concerns about proposed legislation to weaken the Montana Environmental Protection Act during last Wednesday's meeting with local legislators in Ronan. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
  

    Representatives Shelley Fyant and Linda Reksten discusses a variety of bills facing the Legislature this session. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)
  

    Senators Greg Hertz and Jacinda Morigeau were part of last Wednesday's legislative update at the Ronan Community Center, moderated by Buddy Cheff. (Kristi Niemeyer/Leader)