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.
The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Room 317 and continue Thursday at 8 a.m. in Room 137.
Committee members will start out the meeting in a joint session with the Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee (RTIC) to hear and discuss the RTIC’s legislative proposals related to tax increment finance administration. At the start of the interim, the Legislative Council assigned the RTIC House Joint Resolution No. 18, a study of tax increment financing. Throughout the interim, the RTIC has invited Local Government interim committee members to be part of the discussion.
An examination of the challenges facing local fire and emergency service providers within and outside municipalities also continues. In response to information gathered as part of its two assigned interim studies, House Joint Resolution 25 and Senate Joint Resolution 21, the committee requested bill drafts be prepared to allow for the formation of regional fire authorities, to require workers’ compensation coverage for volunteer firefighters, and to create a fireworks safety fee. The committee also requested legislation addressing paramedicine and a bill allowing certain municipalities to annex onto a rural fire district for fire protection services.
The committee also will review draft legislation to allow the Department of Administration to accept simplified financial reports from certain small local entities and to revise enforcement provisions of the Local Government Single Audit Act.
Other proposed legislation addresses tourism impacts on communities near national parks, affordable housing, and modification of the committee’s enabling statute to remove temporary provisions governing appointment of committee members.
For more information on the committee’s activities, please visit the committee’s website or contact Sonja Nowakowski, committee staff.
LGIC is led by Sen. Roger Webb (R-Billings), presiding officer, and Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell (D-Helena), vice presiding officer. Other members are Sens. Fred Thomas (R-Stevensville), Cydnie (Carlie) Boland (D-Great Falls), and Margaret (Margie) MacDonald (D-Billings); and Reps. Adam Hertz (R-Missoula), Dave Fern (D-Whitefish), and Jeremy Trebas (R-Great Falls).
Committee Website: https://leg.mt.gov/css/Committees/Interim/2017-2018/Local-Government/default.html
Committee Staff: snowakowski@mt.gov or 406-444-3078
