Economic Affairs Legislative Group Elects Officers

Committee: Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Pat Murdo
Posted on June 12, 2019

The legislative interim committee that focuses on industry ranging from agriculture to insurance elected Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy as its presiding officer and Rep. Vince Ricci as vice presiding officer at its initial meeting June 6.

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RTIC Adopts Revenue Estimate

Committee: Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee
Author: Megan Moore
Posted on November 21, 2018

The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee met Nov. 19 in Helena to adopt a revenue estimate for FY 2019 and the 2021 Biennium.

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RTIC Meets Nov. 19 to Adopt Revenue Estimate

Committee: Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee
Author: Megan Moore
Posted on November 9, 2018

The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee will meet November 19 in Room 137 of the Capitol building beginning at 10 a.m.  The main objective of the meeting is for the committee to adopt a revenue estimate for introduction to the 2019 Legislature.

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Committee requests response from Secretary of State

Committee: State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Sheri Scurr
Posted on November 2, 2018

The State Administration and Veterans’ Affairs has revised its agenda for its Nov. 13 meeting.

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TVMT (Television Montana) to become Montana Public Affairs Network (MPAN)

Committee: Executive Director Updates
Author: Susan Byorth Fox
Posted on November 1, 2018

The channel formerly known as TVMT (Television Montana) becomes MPAN to reflect the channel’s evolving focus towards expanding services to the citizens of Montana beyond the live, unedited, non-partisan gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Legislative Branch.

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Committee to Meet November 5

Committee: Special Select Committee on State Settlement Accountability
Author: Rachel Weiss
Posted on October 29, 2018

The Special Select Committee on State Settlement Accountability will meet on November 5 at 8 a.m. The meeting will be conducted via teleconference.

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Water Committee Finishes Exempt Well Study, oks 8 Bills

Committee: Water Policy Interim Committee
Author: Jason Mohr
Posted on October 29, 2018

The 2019 Legislature will hear three bills on the water rights change process, after final action by a Montana legislative interim committee last month.

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RTIC Approves Legislation for Agricultural Property Taxation Study

Committee: Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee
Author: Megan Moore
Posted on October 29, 2018

The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee held its last regular meeting of the interim this week in Helena.

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Law and Justice Interim Committee Checks Off Another Interim

Committee: Law and Justice Interim Committee
Author: Rachel Weiss
Posted on October 29, 2018

The Law and Justice Interim Committee voted to forward three bills to the 2019 Legislature and approved a final report for its study of solitary confinement at its final meeting of the 2017-2018 interim.

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Education Interim Committee Graduates

Committee: Education Interim Committee
Author: Pad McCracken
Posted on October 29, 2018

The Education Interim Committee completed its work for the 2017-2018 Interim at its final meeting, September 12-13 in Helena.

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Committee Advances Seven Bills for DD Study

Committee: Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on October 2, 2018

A legislative committee agreed to introduce seven bills in the 2019 legislative session to strengthen community services for adults with developmental disabilities, after studying the topic for more than a year.

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STRC Adopts 12 Committee Bills at Final Meeting

Committee: State-Tribal Relations Committee
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on September 14, 2018

At its last meeting of the interim, the State-Tribal Relations Committee voted to send 12 bills to the 2019 Legislature for consideration.

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Montana State Fund Legislation Stalls in Economic Affairs Committee

Committee: Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Pat Murdo
Posted on September 14, 2018

The Economic Affairs Interim Committee ended its yearlong study of Montana State Fund, the state’s guaranteed provider of workers’ compensation insurance, by adopting a final report and recommendations but advancing no related legislation.

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Legislative Council Travelled to Lewistown in August

Committee: Legislative Council
Author: Susan Byorth Fox
Posted on September 11, 2018

The Legislative Council met in Lewistown on August 22 and 23, 2018 at the Yogo Inn. The Rules Subcommittee met and discussed potential changes to the Joint, House, and Senate Rules for the 2019 Session. 

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Committee to Decide on Bills for DD Services

Committee: Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on September 5, 2018

A legislative committee will decide next week whether to introduce bills in the 2019 Legislature to bolster community services for adults with developmental disabilities.

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SAVA Approves Committee Bills, Declines Agency Bill Requests, Changes Next Meeting to Sept. 6

Committee: State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Sheri Scurr
Posted on September 5, 2018

The State Administration and Veterans’ Affairs Interim Committee (SAVA) on Sept. 6 will receive informational briefings and take public comment on recently enacted federal legislation replacing the Veterans Choice Program.

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ETIC Concludes Interim September 10

Committee: Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee
Author: Trevor Graff
Posted on September 5, 2018

The final meeting of the 2017-2018 Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee (ETIC) is September 10.

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LJIC to Finish Solitary Confinement Study, Other Interim Work in September

Committee: Law and Justice Interim Committee
Author: Rachel Weiss
Posted on September 4, 2018

On Sept. 11, the Law and Justice Interim Committee (LJIC) will meet for the final time before the 2019 session. The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. in Room 102 of the Capitol in Helena.

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Water Committee to Weigh 11 Bills

Committee: Water Policy Interim Committee
Author: Jason Mohr
Posted on September 4, 2018

The final Water Policy Interim Committee meeting of the 2017-18 session includes bills focusing on the water right change process and the state’s stream gauge network.

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RTIC to Review Agricultural Study Legislation, Conclude Studies

Committee: Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee
Author: Megan Moore
Posted on September 4, 2018

The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee will wrap up its interim with a meeting on September 13 in the Capitol.

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EQC to Make Final Funding Choices for Fire Protection, Aquatic Invasive Species, and Recreation

Committee: Environmental Quality Council
Author: Joe Kolman
Posted on September 4, 2018

The Environmental Quality Council closes out the interim on September 12 and 13 with decisions on whether to change funding mechanisms for fire protection, aquatic invasive species (AIS), and recreation programs.

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Education Interim Committee Wraps Up Interim on September 12-13

Committee: Education Interim Committee
Author: Pad McCracken
Posted on September 4, 2018

The Education Interim Committee will hold its final meeting Wednesday-Thursday, September 12-13, 2018, at the State Capitol, Room 152. Meeting materials, including a draft agenda, are posted to the committee website.

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Economic Affairs Interim Committee Wraps Up Workers’ Comp, Other Studies

Committee: Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Pat Murdo
Posted on August 27, 2018

The legislative interim committee that has been studying the future of Montana State Fund plus undertaking studies on unemployment in high-poverty areas and on emergency services, particularly related to veterans, will have its final meeting Sept. 6, starting at 9 a.m. in the State Capitol.

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STRC to Decide Fate of 11 Legislative Proposals on September 7

Committee: State-Tribal Relations Committee
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on August 27, 2018

On September 7, at its last meeting of the 2017-2018 interim, the State-Tribal Relations Committee will decide whether to move any of its 11 legislative proposals forward for consideration by the 2019 Legislature.

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Committee Encourages DPHHS to Use Additional Funds for Essential Services

Committee: Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on August 17, 2018

A legislative committee has encouraged the Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide essential services with the money that will be restored to the agency's budget as a result of legislation from last year's special session.

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Interim Wrap Up Begins

Committee: Law and Justice Interim Committee
Author: Rachel Weiss
Posted on August 16, 2018

The Law and Justice Interim Committee members kept their eyes focused on the upcoming legislative session during the committee’s July meeting. Staff from every agency under the LJIC’s jurisdiction as well as the Judicial Branch updated the committee on their work this interim.

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Public Input Sought on Water Committee Reports, Bills

Committee: Water Policy Interim Committee
Author: Jason Mohr
Posted on July 9, 2018

The Water Policy Interim Committee (WPIC) seeks public comment on two committee reports and five bill drafts.

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EQC Narrows in on Legislative Ideas

Committee: Environmental Quality Council
Author: Joe Kolman
Posted on August 6, 2018

The Environmental Quality Council inched closer at its July meeting to introducing a variety of bills in the 2019 Legislature. Several proposals deal with funding existing programs.

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ETIC Advances Bills at July Meeting

Committee: Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee
Author: Trevor Graff
Posted on July 31, 2018

The Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee (ETIC) advanced legislation related to qualifying facilities, small water and sewer utility regulation, and utility resource planning for final consideration during its July 19-20 meeting in Helena.

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Legislative Committee to Take Public Comment on DPHHS Budget Restoration

Committee: Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on July 27, 2018

The Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee will meet on Aug. 6 to take public comment on the potential use of funds that will be restored to the state's human services agency in this fiscal year.

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LGIC Votes to Bring 10 Bill Drafts Forward

Committee: Local Government Interim Committee
Author:Sonja Nowakowski
Posted on July 26, 2018

The Local Government Interim Committee (LGIC) wrapped up its interim July 11-12, voting to bring 10 bill drafts before the 2019 Legislature for consideration.

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SAVA Approves Committee Bills, Declines Agency Bill Requests, Changes Next Meeting to Sept. 6

Committee: State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Sheri Scurr
Posted on July 24, 2018

At its July 18, meeting, the State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee (SAVA), approved two bill drafts as committee bills.

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RTIC Requests Draft Bills For Agricultural Property Study, Declines TIF and Centrally Assessed Draft Bills

Committee: Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee
Author: Megan Moore
Posted on July 20, 2018

The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee met July 10-11 in Helena to wrap up interim studies on agricultural property valuation, tax increment financing (TIF), and the taxation of centrally assessed and industrial property.

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STRC Opens Formal Public Comment Period for Several Legislative Proposals

Committee: State-Tribal Relations Committee
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on July 17, 2018

During its July 6 conference call, the State-Tribal Relations Committee moved several legislative proposals a step toward consideration by the 2019 Legislature by opening a formal public comment period for them.

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Committee Requests Legislation on State Fund

Committee: Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Pat Murdo
Posted on July 07, 2018

The Economic Affairs Interim Committee, which has been studying the future of Montana’s guaranteed provider of workers’ compensation insurance, asked July 9 for three committee bills to slightly alter how Montana State Fund (State Fund) functions.

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EQC Debating Legislative Ideas

Committee: Environmental Quality Council
Author: Joe Kolman
Posted on July 16, 2018

The Environmental Quality Council will consider public comment on several reports and legislative proposals at its July 25-26 meeting.

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RTIC to Meet July 19th and 20th

Committee: Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee
Author: Trevor Graff
Posted on July 9, 2018

The sixth meeting of the 2017-2018 Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee (ETIC) is July 19-20.

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Procedures, Deadlines, Stream Gauges, and Distribution Lists: Water Committee to Consider 7 Bills

Committee: Water Policy Interim Committee
Author: Jason Mohr
Posted on July 9, 2018

Members of the Water Policy Interim Committee will review draft committee reports and bills at their upcoming July 16-17 meeting.

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Law and Justice to Consider Drafts of Three Potential Committee Bills

Committee: Law and Justice Interim Committee
Author: Rachel Weiss
Posted on July 5, 2018

The Law and Justice Interim Committee (LJIC) will meet at 8 a.m. on July 16 in Room 102 of the Capitol in Helena.

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Election Administration Tops SAVA’s July 18 Agenda

Committee: State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Sheri Scurr
Posted on July 5, 2018

The State Administration and Veterans’ Affairs Interim Committee will meet July 18 to consider a vatiry of topics, including a number of items regarding the administration of elections in Montana.

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Education Interim Committee Eyes Finish Line

Committee: Education Interim Committee
Author: Pad McCracken
Posted on July 3, 2018

The Education Interim Committee met in Helena on June 14-15, adopted several committee bill drafts related to cleaning up school funding laws, and directed staff to prepare several other drafts as the conclusion of the 2017-2018 Interim approaches. The committee also outlined its final meeting of the interim, scheduled for September 12-13 in Helena.

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RTIC to Review Requested Legislation, Consider Effects of Federal Tax Changes

Committee: Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee
Author: Megan Moore
Posted on July 2, 2018

The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee will meet July 10-11 in the Capitol building. The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Room 102 and continue Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in Room 317.

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Local Government Interim Committee to Wrap Up it Work for the Interim

Committee: Local Government Interim Committee
Author:Sonja Nowakowski
Posted on July 2, 2018

The Local Government Interim Committee wraps up its interim July 11-12 by reviewing a dozen legislative proposals, ranging from new options for local governments to fund and organize fire and emergency services and benefits to bill drafts offering affordable housing tax credits.

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Committee Agrees to Continue Work on DD Bill Drafts

Committee: Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on July 2, 2018

A legislative committee studying community services for adults with developmental disabilities reviewed five bill drafts in June and asked for revisions that will be considered at the committee's final meeting in September.

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Economic Affairs Interim Committee Eyes Study Recommendations

Committee: Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Pat Murdo
Posted on June 22, 2018

The Economic Affairs Interim Committee (EAIC) of the Montana legislature will make recommendations at its July 9 meeting on three studies assigned over the past year, including a study of the future of Montana State Fund, the state’s guaranteed provider of workers’ compensation insurance.

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STRC to Review Legislative Proposals on English Learners, Language Programs, Reentry Resources, and Missing Persons

Committee: State-Tribal Relations Committee
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on June 22, 2018

The State-Tribal Relations Committee meets by phone on Friday, July 6, to discuss whether to move several legislative proposals forward. The meeting is scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. and end at noon. Members of the public may attend in person in Room 102 of the Capitol in Helena.

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Committee to Review Bill Drafts on Developmental Disabilities Services

Committee: Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on June 13, 2018

A legislative committee will review and take public comment next week on five bill drafts related to a study of community services for people with developmental disabilities.

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LAC to Review Performance Audit Reports of the Montana Department of Transportation

Committee: Legislative Audit Committee
Author: Angus Maciver
Posted on June 13, 2018

Legislative Audit Committee to review performance audit reports of the Montana Department of Transportation as required under House Bill 473 from the 2017 legislative session. The committee will also hear the latest financial-compliance audit for the Department of Livestock, and will review efforts to combat fraud, waste and abuse in the Montana Medicaid Program.

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Legislative Meeting Opportunities

Committee: Executive Director Updates
Author: Susan Byorth Fox
Posted on June 8, 2018

The intrastate organizations that we belong to are National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) and Council of State Governments – West (CSG-West).

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Legislative Council Adopts Tentative 2019 Session Calendar and Training Dates

Committee: Legislative Council
Author: Susan Byorth Fox
Posted on June 8, 2018

The Legislative Council met in Butte on May 23 and 24, 2018. The council adopted a revised Legislator Training Schedule to include training on January 3 and 4, the week before session begins. Session will begin on Monday, January 7, 2019.

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EQC Seeks Comment on Several Legislative Proposals and Reports

Committee: Environmental Quality Council
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on June 8, 2018

The Environmental Quality Council welcomes public comment on the following proposals through Monday, July 9. The EQC will review the comments at its July 25-26 meeting in Helena as it considers whether to move these concepts forward for consideration by the full legislature in 2019.

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Education Interim Committee to meet in Helena June 14-15

Committee: Education Interim Committee
Author: Pad McCracken
Posted on June 4, 2018

The Education Interim Committee will be meeting Thursday-Friday, June 14-15, 2018, in Helena at the State Capitol, Room 137. Meeting materials, including a draft agenda, are posted to the committee website.

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Water Committee to Consider Seven Bills

Committee: Water Policy Interim Committee
Author: Jason Mohr
Posted on June 4, 2018

A study of Montana’s stream gauging system may be headed to the 2019 Legislature.

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Law and Justice Narrows Interim Work, Requests Bill Drafts for Discussion

Committee: Law and Justice Interim Committee
Author: Rachel Weiss
Posted on June 4, 2018

The Law and Justice Interim Committee wasted little time during its May meeting, packing multiple topics and updates into the day. By the meeting’s end, the LJIC had directed staff to prepare three draft bills for discussion at its July meeting.

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Request for Public Comment

Committee: Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee
Author: Sonja Nowakowski
Posted on June 4, 2018

ETIC members will discuss several bill drafts relating to qualifying facilities, natural gas customer choice, integrated resource planning and resource planning, and small water and sewer utility regulation.

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SAVA Requests Committee Bills, Sets July Agenda

Committee: State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Sheri Scurr
Posted on May 22, 2018

At its May 16 meeting, the State Administration and Veterans’ Affairs Interim Committee (SAVA) voted to request three committee bills to further consider at its July 19 meeting.

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EQC Mulls Legislative Proposals and Funding for Several State Programs

Committee: Environmental Quality Council
Author: Joe Kolman
Posted on May 18, 2018

The Environmental Quality Council will scrutinize funding options for several state programs at its May 29-30 meeting.

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State-Tribal Relations Committee Tweaks Legislative Proposals in May; Will Review Again in July

Committee: State-Tribal Relations Committee
Author: Hope Stockwell
Posted on May 18, 2018

The State-Tribal Relations Committee (STRC) tweaked a package of legislative proposals at its May meeting in Great Falls and scheduled a conference call for July 6 to review them again.

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Children and Families Committee Requests Bill Drafts for DD Study

Committee: Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on May 17, 2018

The Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee in May asked for draft legislation on a variety of topics affecting community services to people with developmental disabilities.

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Montana Legislative Council to Visit Butte

Committee: Legislative Council
Author: Susan Byorth Fox
Posted on May 17, 2018

The Legislative Council will meet on May 23 and 24, 2018, in Butte.

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LJIC to Concentrate on SJ 25 Study of Solitary Confinement

Committee: Law and Justice Interim Committee
Author: Rachel Weiss
Posted on May 14, 2018

The Law and Justice Interim Committee (LJIC) will meet at 8 a.m. on May 21 in Room 102 of the Capitol in Helena.

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Water Committee Considers Gallatin Valley Water Issues

Committee: Water Policy Interim Committee
Author: Jason Mohr
Posted on May 11, 2018

The Water Policy Interim Committee of the Montana Legislature will discuss and visit sites significant to the Gallatin Valley’s water future during their May 21-22 meeting in Bozeman.

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RTIC Requests Draft Bills for Interim Studies

Committee: Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee
Author: Megan Moore
Posted on May 9, 2018

The Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee met May 2-3 in Helena. The committee received agency updates from the Department of Revenue, the Department of Transportation, and the Montana Tax Appeal Board.

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The Montana Index of Environmental Permits Now Available Online

Committee: Environmental Quality Council
Author: Dawn Field
Posted on May 7, 2018

Many things Montanans do or may want to do are regulated by state government. Sometimes knowing who is in charge of what can be confusing. Even what might seem like a simple project could mean contacting multiple agencies.

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Committee to Focus on Options for DD Study

Committee: Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee
Author: Sue O'Connell
Posted on May 7, 2018

A legislative committee will consider several options for action on its study of community services for people with developmental disabilities when it meets in Helena on May 14.

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Elections and Hazardous Material Incident Response Capabilities are Key Topics for May 16 Meeting

Committee: State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Sheri Scurr
Posted on May 7, 2018

Election security and voting machines as well as hazardous material incident response capabilities will be key topics of discussion when the State Administration and Veterans’ Affairs Interim Committee meets in Helena May 16.

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Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee Meets May 17-18

Committee: Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee
Author: Trevor Graff
Posted on May 7, 2018

ETIC members will discuss several bill drafts relating to qualifying facilities, natural gas customer choice, integrated resource planning and resource planning, and small water and sewer utility regulation.

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Subcommittee Studying State Fund Gathers More Information

Committee: Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Pat Murdo
Posted on May 3, 2018

The Economic Affairs Interim Committee meeting as a subcommittee to study the future of Montana State Fund under Senate Joint Resolution 27 decided to take home the contrasting viewpoints and other information presented April 27 for further study before determining next steps for the remaining meetings this interim.

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Economic Affairs Committee Gets New Vice Presiding Officer, Additional Committee Bills

Committee: Economic Affairs Interim Committee
Author: Pat Murdo
Posted on May 3, 2018

Rep. Ryan Lynch, appointed to the Economic Affairs Interim Committee (EAIC) in place of now Sen. Nate McConnell, won election to take former Rep. McConnell’s place as the committee’s vice presiding officer on April 26.

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LFC to Review Agency Supplemental Appropriation Requests

Committee: Legislative Finance Committee
Author: Susie Lindsay
Posted on May 2, 2018


The LFC will meet via conference call on May 9 at 10:00 a.m. in State Capitol room 102 to review the Governor’s Budget Director’s notification of likely fiscal year transfer supplemental appropriations in several agencies and hear the Legislative Fiscal Division’s (LFD) analysis of the impacts.

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