Helena, Montana 59601

Phone/Fax 406-443-2370

April 18, 2009

LOBBYIST ACTIVITY REPORT

2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

WEEK FIFTEEN

(April 12, 2009 – April 18, 2009)

During Week Fifteen of the 2009 Legislative Session, I followed this proposed legislation:

HB 52: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GROUND WATER INVESTIGATION PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR PRIORITIZATION OF SUBBASINS BY THE GROUND WATER ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE; ADDING A MEMBER OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO THE GROUND WATER ASSESSMENT STEERING COMMITTEE; PROVIDING A CONTINGENT APPROPRIATION FOR THE PROGRAM; AMENDING SECTION 2-15-1523, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." This legislation would provide $900,000.00 to the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology to develop and implement a ground water investigation program for the purpose of collecting and compiling ground water and aquifer data. Since Richland County is fortunate to have two major river basins, and the associated groundwater resource in and adjoining the County, I provided testimony in support of this legislation. As originally proposed the funding for this legislation was $4.2 million. However, as a result of the continued reduction in the budget estimates for the next biennium, this legislation was amended to reduce the appropriation to $900,000.00.

SB 303: "AN ACT REQUIRING THAT SECTIONS OF THE STATE WATER PLAN

ADDRESS VARIOUS WATER ISSUES WITHIN THE CLARK FORK, FLATHEAD, MISSOURI, AND YELLOWSTONE RIVER BASINS; CREATING A WATER USER COUNCIL COUNCILS; AND AMENDING SECTION 85-1-203, MCA." I provided testimony in support of this legislation.

HB 645: "AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009; PROVIDING APPROPRIATIONS OF FEDERAL FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE RECEIPT OF FEDERAL FUNDS; REVISING STATUTES TO IMPLEMENT THE RECEIPT AND EXPENDITURE OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS AND THE FUNDS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS; AUTHORIZING THE ADOPTION OF RETROACTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES; REVISING THE ALLOCATION OF THE HOSPITAL BED TAX; REVISING INDIRECT COST RECOVERY LAWS; REVISING THE DEFINITIONS OF BASE BUDGET AND PRESENT LAW BASE FOR THE NEXT STATE BUDGET CYCLE; REVISING THE BASE PERIOD FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS; PROVIDING FOR A PART-TIME WORK SEARCH AND PARTICIPATION IN WORKER TRAINING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT PURPOSES; REVISING THE USE OF THE HEALTHY KIDS STATE SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT; REVISING THE USE OF THE HEALTH AND MEDICAID INITIATIVES ACCOUNT; CLARIFYING WATER POLLUTION LAWS AND THE USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR WATER PROJECTS; REVISING THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LOAN PROGRAM; ESTABLISHING THE DISTRESSED WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY RECOVERY PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR A QUICK START ENERGY PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR QUICK START ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES; REVISING THE PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING UNDER THE BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; EXTENDING THE HOSPITAL BED TAX; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-4-306, 15-66-102, 17-1-106, 17-2-124, 17-7-102, 17-7-402, 17-7-502, 20-25-427, 39-51-201, 52-3-115, 53-4-1115, 53-6-149, 53-6-1201, 75-5-1102, 75-5-1107, 75-6-202, 75-6-226, 75-25-101, AND 75-25-102, AND 90-1-204, MCA, SECTION 20, CHAPTER 390, LAWS OF 2003, SECTIONS 4 AND 7, CHAPTER 606, LAWS OF 2005, SECTIONS 4, 5, 6, AND 8, CHAPTER 517, LAWS OF 2007, AND SECTION 9-B, CHAPTER 5, SPECIAL LAWS OF MAY 2007; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE, A RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY DATE, AND A TERMINATION DATE." This legislation is the Federal Economic Stimulus Package of 2009. I am continuing to monitor this legislation.

HB 658: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING TAX LAWS; MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF PROPERTY TAX REAPPRAISAL; CHANGING THE TAXABLE RATE OF PHASING IN CHANGES TO THE TAX RATES FOR CLASS THREE AND FOUR PROPERTY; INCREASING THE MARKET VALUE AMOUNT AND THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; PHASING IN CHANGES TO THE TAX RATES OF CLASS THREE AND CLASS TEN PROPERTY; ESTABLISHING EXEMPTION RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CLASS FOUR PROPERTY; CHANGING THE REAPPRAISAL CYCLE TO 4 YEARS AND PHASING IN VALUES IMPLEMENTED BY REAPPRAISAL OVER 4 YEARS; ESTABLISHING A CIRCUIT BREAKER INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR PROPERTY TAXES BASED ON

THE TAXPAYER'S PROPERTY TAX BILL AS A PERCENT OF INCOME AND OTHER FACTORS; ELIMINATING THE LOW-INCOME PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED OR DECEASED VETERANS, AND THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT FOR THE ELDERLY; PROVIDING FOR AN EXEMPTION OF VALUE FOR QUALIFYING HOMES, INCLUDING RENTAL HOMES REVISING THE PROVISIONS RELATED TO MITIGATING EXTRAORDINARY INCREASES IN RESIDENTIAL MARKET VALUE; REVISING THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS; CHANGING THE WAY THE VALUE OF CERTAIN NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PROPERTY IS DETERMINED FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MILL LEVY AUTHORITY; EXEMPTING FROM TAXATION LAND THAT IS DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO PARK OR ROADWAY PURPOSES UNDER LAWS REGULATING SUBDIVISIONS; REVISING THE METHOD FOR VALUING AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BY INCREASING WATER LABOR COSTS FOR IRRIGATED LAND AND CLARIFYING PROVIDING THAT SPRING WHEAT FROM SUMMER FALLOW LAND ALFALFA HAY ADJUSTED TO 80 PERCENT OF THE SALES PRICE IS THE BASE CROP FOR NONIRRIGATED LAND; REVISING THE DETERMINATION OF THE CAPITALIZATION RATE FOR THE VALUATION OF FOREST LANDS; INCREASING THE ELIGIBILITY INCOME REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFIT AMOUNTS FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX CREDIT FOR THE

ELDERLY; ESTABLISHING A FOREST LANDS TAXATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE IN ITS DETERMINATION OF THE VALUE OF FOREST LANDS; PROVIDING

FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND TERMS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE; REQUIRING NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX 1 ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ON CLASSIFICATION AND APPRAISAL NOTICES ANDPROPERTY TAX BILLS; EXTENDING APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR THE LOW-INCOME PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE DISABLED OR DECEASED VETERANS' RESIDENCE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM; CHANGING THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING; REQUESTING THAT THE REVENUE AND TRANSPORTATION INTERIM COMMITTEE REVIEW PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE TO TAXPAYERS; AMENDING SECTIONS 2-15-122, 5-2-301, 15-6-133, 7-15-4285, 15-6-134, 15-6-143, 15-6-193, 15-6-211, 15-6-222, 15-7-102, 15-7-111, 15-7-201, 15-16-102, 15-30-171, 15-30-172, 15-30-176, 15-10-420, 15-16-101, AND 15-44-103, 47-1-111, AND 53-6-1001, MCA; REPEALING SECTIONS 15-6-191, 15-6-211, 15-30-171, 15-30-172, 15-30-173, 15-30-174, 15-30-175, 15-30-176, 15-30-177, 15-30-178, AND 15-30-179, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY DATE." This legislation is attempting to mitigate the effects of property tax reappraisal. I am continuing to monitor this legislation.

HB 2: "AN ACT APPROPRIATING MONEY TO VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2011; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." This legislation is more commonly known as the General Appropriations Bill. This legislation will fund State Government for the next two years starting July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. I am continuing to monitor this legislation.