Helena, Montana 59601

Phone/Fax 406-443-2370

January 23, 2007

LOBBYIST ACTIVITY REPORT

2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

WEEK THREE

(January 14 – January 20, 2007)

During Week Three of the 2007 Legislative Session, I monitored the following bills:

HB 137: ("AN ACT REVISING CONDITIONS UNDER THE MICROBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACT TO INCREASE ACCESS TO DEVELOPMENT LOANS; REVISING THE DEFINITION OF "QUALIFIED MICROBUSINESS,….")

I supported this bill. This bill basically revised the definition of “Qualified Microbusiness” to allow businesses that have fewer than 10 full-time equivalent employees and gross revenue of less than $1 million dollars to qualify for the program. At the present time, to qualify, a business must have fewer than 10 employees and have gross revenue of less than $500,000. Therefore, passage of this bill would allow the program to be available to more businesses.

HB 206: ("AN ACT CLARIFYING THAT A MILL LEVY ELECTION PROPOSAL MUST SPECIFY EITHER THE DOLLAR AMOUNT TO BE RAISED OR THE NUMBER OF MILLS TO BE LEVIED AND WHETHER THE MILL LEVY IS PERMANENT; CLARIFYING THAT THE GOVERNING BODY MAY REDUCE THE LEVY WITHOUT LOSING THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE UP TO THE MAXIMUM APPROVED; . . .")

I monitored this bill. The title of the bill is self-explanatory. The purpose of the bill was to help resolve confusion about the amount of mill levy elections.

SB 19: ("AN ACT REVISING LAWS GOVERNING OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS; REQUIRING A SEISMIC ACTIVITY PERMITHOLDER TO FURNISH INFORMATION TO A SURFACE OWNER; REQUIRING AN OIL OR GAS DEVELOPER OR OPERATOR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO A SURFACE OWNER; REQUIRING THE SURFACE OWNER TO PROVIDE INFORMATION; INCREASING THE TIME PERIODS FOR NOTICE OF DRILLING OPERATIONS; CLARIFYING THAT A SURFACE OWNER AND OIL AND GAS DEVELOPER OR OPERATOR MAY USE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESSES; CLARIFYING THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS; . . .")

I monitored this bill. SB 19 is the result of an interim study group that was authorized by the 2005 Legislature to address concerns that were raised by SB 258 in the 2005 Legislature. The interim study group met throughout the interim with the goal of crafting a bill for the 2007 Legislature that would be address the concerns of both the landowners and the petroleum industry. Although SB 19 was the best compromise that could be reached between the two opposing positions, the testimony presented at the hearing indicated that neither side was in total agreement with the provisions of the bill.

SB 275: ("AN ACT ALLOWING THE IMPOSITION OF A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX BY A VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE; DEFINING TAXABLE GOODS AND SERVICES SUBJECT TO TAXATION; PRECLUDING THE TAXATION OF CERTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES AND LEGAL FORMS OF GAMBLING; PROVIDING THAT LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX REVENUE MAY BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE REFLECTED IN THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX; . . .")

I monitored this bill. This bill would allow local governments to approve a local option sales tax for their communities. Typically, local option sales tax bills have been supported by the larger cities and towns in Montana that have the ability to attract tourists and shoppers to their area. Revenues generated by local option sales taxes are usually used for infrastructure projects in the area where the sales taxes are implemented. Similar bills have been introduced in previous legislative sessions.

HB 6: "AN ACT REVISING AND 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; . . ."

I provided testimony in support of the Sidney Water Users Irrigation District’s Renewable Resource Grant Application. The grant application, in the amount of $100,000.00, is to increase irrigation efficiency within the irrigation district. Mr. Ray Bell, representing the Sidney Water Users Irrigation District provided the testimony for the irrigation district.

BIOTECH LEGISLATION: The Richland Economic Development Corporation was asked to by one of its members to do some research and make some inquiries about whether there was any biotech (genetically modified organisms) legislation being proposed for introduction to the 2007 Legislature. To date, there are two pieces of legislation that address genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They are HB 432 and LC 1079. HB 432 has been assigned to the House Agriculture Committee. No hearing date has been set.

OTHER ACTIVITIES: On January 17, REDC Executive Director Leslie Messer was in Helena to attend the Legislature and to meet with State Government Officials. We had a breakfast meeting with Representative McNutt to discuss legislative issues that could impact the Richland Economic Development Corporation, its members and the community. Senator Steinbeisser was unable to attend due to illness.