Helena, Montana 59601

Phone/Fax 406-443-2370

January 26, 2009

LOBBYIST ACTIVITY REPORT

2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

WEEK THREE

(January 18 – January 24, 2009)

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

HB 233: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING A WINTERTIME 10% OVERWEIGHT PERMIT FOR CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLES HAULING GRAIN, HAY, LIVESTOCK, OR PRODUCTS NEEDED FOR THE OPERATION OF A FARM OR RANCH; PROVIDING A FEE TO OBTAIN THE PERMIT; GRANTING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; AMENDING SECTIONS . . ." The purpose of this proposed legislation is well described in the title of the bill. While it would allow for increasing load limits during the winter months, December 1 through March 7, there are possible risks involved in hazards to public health and safety, and damage to the roadway. I monitored this proposed legislation.

SB 78: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CLARIFYING THE MILL LEVY LIMIT FOR SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS; AMENDING . . ." This proposed legislation is basically a “house cleaning” bill to clarify the language in the law and eliminate conflicting language with other existing laws. I monitored this legislation.

SB 148: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING AND CLARIFYING LAWS RELATED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; RECOGNIZING ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT; REVISING SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN STATUTES; ELIMINATING ARCHAIC STATUTES; AMENDING SECTIONS . . . “ This proposed legislation is a general “house cleaning” bill that would update and simplify the laws relating to local governments. I monitored this legislation.

HB 48: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATING TO THE GROWTH THROUGH AGRICULTURE ACT; REVISING ELIGIBILITY AND DISBURSEMENT GUIDELINES; ALLOWING THE USE OF GRANTS; GRANTING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDING . . ." This proposed legislation would clarify and simplify the language in the Growth Through Agriculture Act. The revised language would make it simpler to apply for a loan or grant through the Growth Through Agriculture Program. I testified in support of this legislation.

SJ 11: A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESUME FUNDING OF THE MONTANA BIO-PRODUCT INNOVATION CENTERS. I monitored this Senate Joint Resolution.

SB 214: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT INCREASING PENALTIES FOR THEFT OF A COMMONLY DOMESTICATED HOOFED ANIMAL AND FOR ILLEGAL BRANDING OR ALTERING OR OBSCURING A BRAND; REQUIRING MANDATORY COMMUNITY SERVICE IF A PRISON SENTENCE IS DEFERRED; PROVIDING FOR FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY FOR THE THEFT OF A COMMONLY DOMESTICATED HOOFED ANIMAL AND FOR ILLEGAL BRANDING OR ALTERING OR OBSCURING A BRAND; AMENDING . . ." I provided testimony in support of this legislation.

SB 238: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REPEALING THE TERMINATION DATE FOR FUNDING OF THE COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THE GROWTH THROUGH AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, THE RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAM, THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM, THE CERTIFIED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, THE MONTANA MANUFACTURING EXTENSION CENTER AT MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BOZEMAN, AND THE EXPORT TRADE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM; RETAINING THE STATUTORY APPROPRIATION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS; AMENDING . . ." I provided testimony in support of this proposed legislation. The only opponent that testified against this bill was the Governor’s Budget Office. The reason the Governor’s Budget Office testified against this bill is because it completely eliminates any Sunset date for the existing law and it potentially increases FY 2010 – 2011 expenditures over the Governor’s Executive Budget. As a matter of course, due to the many unknowns in the amount of General Fund that will be available for expenditure over the next biennium, the Governor’s Budget Office has been opposing any proposed legislation that increases General Fund spending in excess of the Governor’s Executive Budget.

HB 6: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM; APPROPRIATING MONEY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION FOR GRANTS UNDER THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM; PRIORITIZING GRANTS AND AMOUNTS; ESTABLISHING CONDITIONS FOR GRANTS; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES." The Richland County Conservation District had submitted a grant proposal for $100,000.00 entitled the “LOWER YELLOWSTONE GROUND-WATER RESERVATION: WATER DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF BURIED CHANNEL AQUIFERS IN RICHLAND COUNTY, MONTANA. I provided testimony in support of the Richland County Conservation District’s grant application.

HB 2: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT APPROPRIATING MONEY TO VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2011; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." Leslie Messer, Executive Director of the Richland Economic Development Corporation, provided testimony in support of that portion of the Department of Commerce’s FY 2010 – 2011 Budget request that had to do with economic development programs.

HB 238: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STATE TEEN DRIVER SAFETY DAY AS AN OFFICIAL DAY OF OBSERVANCE IN MONTANA TO PROMOTE TEEN DRIVER EDUCATION AND SAFETY." I monitored this proposed legislation.

SB 215: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REMOVING FROM THE ENUMERATION OF COUNTY CHARGES THE REFERENCE TO THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE-HALF OF A COUNTY ATTORNEY'S SALARY; AND AMENDING SECTION 7-6-2426, MCA." I provided testimony in support of this proposed legislation.

SB 222: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING PROVISIONS RELATED TO REQUIRED FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 2; REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT SEEK FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A STATE MATCH; REMOVING THE PROHIBITION ON EXPENDING RESOURCES THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE FUTURE HIGHWAY PROJECTS; AND AMENDING SECTION 60-2-133, MCA." This proposed legislation would make the process easier for the State of Montana to make highway funds available for the improvement of Highway 2. I provided testimony in support of this proposed legislation.

SB 225: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT INCREASING THE ALLOWABLE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT PER AXLE FOR FARM VEHICLES TRANSPORTING SUGAR BEETS WITHIN A 50-MILE RADIUS OF THE HARVESTED FIELD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 15 AND DECEMBER 1; AND AMENDING SECTION 61-10-144,MCA." The purpose of this proposed legislation is well described in the title of the bill. While it would allow for increasing load limits during the sugar beet harvest. While there are some advantages to this bill, there are also possible risks involved in hazards to public health and safety, and damage to the roadway. I monitored this proposed legislation.

HB 20: A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT CREATING A WEATHERIZATION ACCOUNT; ALLOCATING TO THE ACCOUNT A PERCENTAGE OF THE OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION TAXES; AMENDING SECTIONS 15-36-331, 90-4-201, AND 90-4-215, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." This proposed legislation would take 5% of the state portion of the oil and gas production tax and create a weatherization account in the state special revenue fund. I monitored this legislation.