Pace quickens in Helena as transmittal deadline nears

Flathead business owners are keeping a sharp eye on Helena these days.

Legislative footwork is quickening there this week as committees hold a spate of hearings before the Feb. 26 transmittal deadline, when all non-funding bills must be out of committee and head for the opposite chamber.

With so much at stake on the bottom line in a deepening recession, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce members gathered for a legislative update from attorney Cory Swanson of Anderson, Baker and Swanson PLLC on Tuesday. The law firm is the Chamber's representative in Helena.

Property tax reappraisal proposals have defined the first half of the 61st Legislature, Swanson told the group. Forest owners presented their positions on methods to calculate land value, but no action has been taken yet.

And now that President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law Tuesday, Swanson said, it could well consume the second half of the session as lawmakers try to figure out how it will impact Montana's budget.

Two other prime issues that will come to the forefront are the state budget and decisions on how to guide participation in the local land zoning process.

But, Swanson cautioned, a 50-50 split in the House between Democrats and Republicans, and a Republican-majority Senate balanced with a Democrat governor could mean fewer bills actually survive the legislative process this year.

Swanson gave a run-down of bills directly affecting the business community. For the text of bills and more information, visit the Montana Legislature's Web site, http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/default.asp

Failed bills

n HB 312 by Rep. Bill Beck, R-Whitefish - Increase population requirements for resort tax purposes.

n SB 61 - Public school consideration in impact fees.

n SB 272 - Prohibit impact fees for public schools.

n SB 277 - Tax gross receipts from big box stores.

n SB 265 - Local option fuel tax in urban transportation districts.

n HB 240 - Reduce the business equipment tax from 3 percent to 2 percent and add a $100,000 exemption.

n HB 329 by Rep. Dee Brown, R-Whitefish - Include doughnut area population included in resort community population.

Moving forward

n HB 123 - Extend coal trust funded economic development programs. Passed the House on third reading 90-8, transmitted to Senate.

n HB 150 by Rep. Dee Brown - The Montana Recreation Responsibility Act. Passed House third reading 60-39, transmitted to Senate.

n HB 163 - Revise tax incentives for motion picture industry. Passed House second reading, 66-34.

n SB 158 by Sen. Greg Barkus, R-Kalispell - Revise the number of judges in judicial districts. No action yet in House Judiciary Committee.

n SB 192 by Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish - Small business work-comp relief. It was heard in Senate Business and Labor Committee on Feb. 4.

n SB 305 by Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell - Revise subdivision and platting act. Heard in Senate Local Government on Feb. 6.

n SB 306 - Definition of remainders. Hearing on Feb. 6.

n SB 307 by Sen. Bruce Tutvedt - Adding exempt sale provision to subdivision review law. Hearing on Feb. 6.

n SB 315 by Sen. Ryan Zinke - Revise class eight business equipment tax. Referred to Senate Tax Committee on Jan. 30.

n SB 371 - Revise work comp laws, heard on Feb. 12 by Senate Business and Labor Committee.

n SJ 13 by Sen. Ryan Zinke - Commemorate Glacier Park's centennial. House State Administration Committee passed 18-0 to the House floor.

New bills to monitor

n HB 455 - Big Sky Rivers Act. Hearing on Feb. 19 in House Local Government. Significant opposition expected.

n HB 519 - Revise deadlines under subdivision and platting act. Hearing on Feb. 17.

n HB 520 - Revise land use planning laws. Hearing on Feb. 17.

n HB 522 - Revise subdivision exemptions. Hearing on Feb. 17.

n HB 523 - Revise zoning protest provisions. Hearing on Feb. 17. Significant opposition expected.

n HB 538 by Rep. Cheryl Steenson, D-Kalispell - Medicare gap coverage for disabled under age 65. Hearing on Feb. 19 in House Business and Labor.

n SB 315 by Sen. Ryan Zinke - Revise class eight business equipment tax. Hearing on Feb. 18. Recommend supporting this bill.

n SB 349 by Sen. Bruce Tutvedt - Revise state bidding requirements to protect proprietary information. Hearing on Feb. 17.

n SB 420 by Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell - Challenge of certain water rights during adjudication. Hearing on Feb. 18.

n SB 421 by Sen. Verdell Jackson - Generally revise water law. Hearing on Feb. 18.

n SB 422 by Sen. Verdell Jackson - Generally revise water use act. Hearing on Feb. 18.

n SB 423 by Sen. Verdell Jackson - Montana river and stream protection. Hearing on Feb. 20 in Senate Local Government. Opposition expected.

n SB 433 - Revise open-cut mining laws. Hearing on Feb. 18.