State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee

SAVA Requests Committee Bills, Sets July Agenda

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


aspen trees around pond in Missoula, Montana

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. The July agenda will also cover a range of topics related to elections, veterans, and public pensions.  

Committee bills

One of the committee bills would revise the criteria for qualified electors in water/sewer districts.  Currently, a property owner and any resident, even if the resident does not own property, who is at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen is considered a qualified elector of the district.  The bill would add that to be considered a qualified elector a resident who does not own property must  be registered to vote. This change would make it possible for the county election administrator to use the voter registration list and property ownership records to determine the total number of qualified electors in the district, which is essential to administration of the petition and election provisions in the water/sewer district laws. The bill would not change the criteria for property owners. An owner of taxable real property in the district (or a designated agent if the property is owned by more than one person) would still be a qualified elector without having to be a registered voter in the district. Thus, nonresident property owners would still be considered a qualified elector.  

Another committee bill would be an interim study resolution on voter qualifications in all special district elections.

A third committee bill would revise how a vacancy in Montana’s seat in U.S. House of Representatives is filled by conforming Montana’s vacancy provision to the U.S. Constitution. Under the U.S. Constitution, the governor may make a temporary appointment to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate, but not may not make a temporary appointment to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives.

July agenda

The committee’s next meeting will be July 19.  Although the start time and agenda schedule has not yet been set, topics on the agenda will likely include:

  • Hearings on the initial drafts of the committee bills.
  • Review and authorization for drafting of agency bills for the following agencies:
    • Secretary of State's Office
    • Commissioner of Political Practices
    • Department of Military Affairs
    • Board of Veterans' Affairs
    • Department of Administration (and administratively attached entities)
  • Teachers’ Retirement System experience study.
  • The VA’s Vet Choice II program.
  • Voter information files – privacy and security.
  • Disabled elector laws, including applicability to school elections.
  • Campaign finance rules affecting local government disclosures.

For more information, please visit the committee's website or contact Sheri Scurr, committee staff, at sscurr@mt.gov or (406) 444-3596.