AMESTOY CONSULTING, LLC
2009
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WEEK NINE
(March 1,
2009 – March 7, 2009)
During
Week Nine of the 2009 Legislative Session, I followed this proposed
legislation:
HB 48: "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 SECTIONS . . .; EFFECTIVE
DATE." The purpose of this legislation is to update and simplify the
Growth Through Agriculture grant and loan process. I provided testimony in
support of this legislation.
SB 57: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING THE LAWS RELATING TO SPECIAL DISTRICTS;
ALLOWING FOR THE CREATION OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WORKING
INDIVIDUALLY AND JOINTLY; ESTABLISHING UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR THE CREATION,
ADMINISTRATION, AND OPERATION OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS BY GOVERNING BODIES AND
ELECTED OR APPOINTED BOARDS; ELIMINATING SPECIFIC PROVISIONS RELATING TO
CEMETERY DISTRICTS, COUNTY MUSEUMS, FACILITIES FOR THE ARTS, MUSEUM DISTRICTS,
COUNTY PARK DISTRICTS, COUNTY FAIR COMMISSIONS, COUNTY FAIR DISTRICTS,
MULTICOUNTY FAIR DISTRICTS, HOSPITAL DISTRICTS, JOINT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
DISTRICTS, LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICTS,
MULTIJURISDICTIONAL SERVICE DISTRICTS, PARK MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS, ROAD
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, RODENT CONTROL DISTRICTS, RURAL FIRE DISTRICTS, SOLID
WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, AND TELEVISION DISTRICTS; AMENDING SECTIONS .
. , MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE." I monitored this legislation.
SB 58: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING THE LAWS RELATING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS;
ALLOWING CONTRACTING WITH PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE SALE OF BONDS RELATED TO
RURAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS AND SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS; REQUIRING THE
REPORTING OF SPECIAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES TO THE STATE FOR PURPOSES OF DIGITAL
MAPPING; GRANTING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDING SECTIONS 7-12-2172 AND
7-12-4204, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE." I monitored this
legislation.
SB 419:
"AN ACT REVISING TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT LAWS; ALLOWING A COUNTY
TO CREATE A COUNTY ROAD IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
DISTRICT; STANDARDIZING THE STATUTES RELATED TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
DISTRICTS BY CORRECTING CERTAIN INTERNAL REFERENCES AND TERMINOLOGY AND BY
ENSURING CONSISTENT APPLICATION OF CERTAIN STATUTES TO EACH TYPE OF TAX
INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT; AMENDING SECTIONS . . ., MCA; AND PROVIDING AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." I monitored this legislation.
HB 168:
"AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR LOANS UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL LOAN
AUTHORITY ACT BY INCREASING THE ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM NET WORTH OF LOAN APPLICANTS;
AMENDING SECTION 80-12-203, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE
DATE." This legislation would allow the net worth of an applicant for a
loan under the Agricultural Loan Authority Act to be increased from $250,000.00
to $450,000.00. The purpose of this legislation is to make it easier for a
“beginning” farmer or rancher to get a loan under the Agricultural Loan
Authority Act. I provided testimony in support of this legislation.
HB 247:
"AN ACT CLARIFYING THAT TO QUALIFY AS MONTANA-CERTIFIED NATURAL BEEF
CATTLE, THE BEEF CATTLE MUST BE RAISED WITHOUT ANY ANTIBIOTICS; AMENDING
SECTION 80-11-801, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." I
monitored this legislation.
SB 462:
"AN ACT CREATING A SEPARATE LIEN ON OIL OR GAS OR THE PROCEEDS OF OIL OR
GAS FOR INTEREST OWNERS; CLARIFYING RIGHTS OF PURCHASERS; PROVIDING A PROCESS
FOR CLAIMING A SECURITY INTEREST AND LIEN; PROVIDING A PERSONAL RIGHT OF
ACTION; PROVIDING FOR PRIORITY OVER CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION LIENS; AND AMENDING
SECTIONS 71-3-124, 71-3-1002, AND 71-3-1011, MCA." I monitored this
legislation.
SB 292: "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A REDUCED SEVERANCE
TAX RATE ON COAL RECOVERED FROM A STRIP MINE BY AUGER MINING; AMENDING SECTIONS
15-35-102 AND 15-35-103,MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN
APPLICABILITY DATE." I monitored this legislation.
SB 89:
"AN ACT MAKING PERMANENT THE PRIMARY SECTOR BUSINESS WORKFORCE TRAINING
ACT; REPEALING SECTION 10, CHAPTER 567, LAWS OF 2003, AND SECTION 4, CHAPTER
169, LAWS OF 2005; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." This
legislation would eliminate the “Sunset” provision on the Primary Sector
Business Workforce Training Act. I provided testimony is support of this
legislation.
SB 100:
"AN ACT INCREASING THE COAL SEVERANCE TAX ALLOCATION TO THE OIL, GAS, AND
COAL NATURAL RESOURCE ACCOUNT; AMENDING SECTION 15-35-108, MCA; AND PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE." Since
SB 222:
"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." The improvement of
Highway 2 from a 2-lane highway to a 4-lane highway would provide an additional
improved east-west highway to move goods and services in and out of