Helena, Montana 59601

Phone/Fax 406-443-2370

January 29, 2007

LOBBYIST ACTIVITY REPORT

2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

WEEK FOUR

(January 21 – January 27, 2007)

During Week Four of the 2007 Legislative Session, provided testimony on the following bills:

HB 2: I provided testimony in support of a portion of the Montana State University Educational Units and Public Service Research Agencies budget as outlined in HB 2 (“AN ACT APPROPRIATING MONEY TO VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING JUNE 30, 2009 . . .”). The portion of the budget for which I provided support testimony dealt with adequate funding for staffing levels and research for the Agricultural Experiment Stations and the Agricultural Extension Service.

HB 222: "AN ACT PROVIDING FUNDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION TO CONTRACT WITH AN ENTITY TO CONDUCT AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE VALUE OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN MONTANA; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; . . .") I provided testimony in support of this bill. This bill would provide $200,000.00 of General Fund money to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for the completion of a statewide economic assessment of the value of irrigated agriculture to the economy of Montana. This proposed study is patterned after a similar study that was conducted in Alberta, Canada. The Alberta study determined that of the increased revenue generated by irrigated agriculture, approximately 14% went to the producer, while approximately 86% went to the economies of the local area, the region and the province. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Montana reserved water for irrigation purposes and identified land in the Yellowstone and Missouri River drainages that could be irrigated. If the economic analysis shows that the general economy would benefit from the development of new irrigation and the rehabilitation of existing irrigation projects, the State should consider developing a cost-share program for the development of new irrigation and the rehabilitation of existing irrigation projects. A program of this nature would provide for water and land development, rural economic development opportunities, and provide opportunities for the production of high value crops and the development of value added businesses.

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 an appropriation from the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program for the continued funding of the Irrigation and Development Grant Program. This program provides grants to individuals and businesses for the development of irrigation projects. Several Richland County individuals and businesses have taken advantage of this program for the last several years.

HB 223: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A REGIONAL VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM; CREATING REGIONAL RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TO INCREASE VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT MONTANA; . . .” I provided testimony in support of this bill. Basically, this bill would provide State Funding for the creation of regional rural development centers that are committed to increasing value-added agricultural opportunities throughout Montana. This program would basically be a continuation of the Cooperative Development Centers that were originally established and funded by a program developed through Congressman Rehberg’s Office. As originally organized the Cooperative Development Center Program provided funding and staffing for five Cooperative Development Centers around the State. The purpose of the Cooperative Development Centers is to help individuals and small businesses understand how to develop value-added businesses and marketing opportunities. As outlined in the proposed legislation, two more offices would be added to the existing five offices throughout the State.

HB 331: "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, AND THE EXPORT TRADE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM; RETAINING THE STATUTORY APPROPRIATION FOR THE RESEARCH AND COMMERCIALIZATION PROGRAM; INCREASING BY 20 PERCENT THE STATUTORY APPROPRIATION TO THE COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THE GROWTH THROUGH AGRICULTURE 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, AND THE EXPORT TRADE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM; . . ." I provided testimony in support of this proposed legislation. As outlined in the title of the bill, the budgets of these programs were increased by 20%. All of these programs are useful tools in economic development programs. An amendment was offered to not increase the amount of the Growth Through Agriculture Program because it was determined that the program was adequately funded.

SB 328: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN OPTIONAL PROCUREMENT EXCEPTION APPLICABLE TO THE PURCHASE OF MONTANA-PRODUCED FOOD PRODUCTS BY PUBLIC AGENCIES; . . .." I provided testimony in support of this proposed legislation. This bill provides an optional procurement exception for Montana public agencies to purchase Montana-produced food products. Since this is an optional procurement exemption, it does not result in an unfair competitive advantage for Montana products over other qualified food producers. The ability to exercise this optional purchase provision will provide opportunities for Montana producers to take advantage of certain Montana markets for high quality food products.

I monitored the following proposed legislation, but did not provide any testimony:

HB 399: "AN ACT ALLOWING LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE EMPLOYEE GROUP BENEFITS PLAN; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO ADOPT PROCEDURES FOR ENROLLING LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE GROUP BENEFITS

PROGRAM; . . .”

HB 286: "AN ACT REVISING INCENTIVES UNDER THE BIG SKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO ASSIST HIGH-POVERTY COUNTIES IN WORKFORCE TRAINING AND OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES; . . ."

HB 235: "AN ACT EXPANDING BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT PURPOSES TO INCLUDE TOURISM, PROMOTION, MARKETING, AND SALES; REVISING OPTIONS FOR ASSESSMENT OF COSTS TO INCLUDE FLAT-FEE OPTIONS; PROVIDING FOR DISTRICTS COMPOSED OF NONCONTINGUOUS AREAS IF PROPERTY IS RELATED BY PURPOSE; . . ."

SB 245: "AN ACT INCREASING THE DEBT LIMITS FOR COUNTIES, CONSOLIDATED MUNICIPALITIES, AND CITIES OR TOWNS; . . ."

SB 251: "AN ACT ALLOWING THE STATE TO TRANSFER PUBLIC ROADWAYS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAKING OVER FULL MAINTENANCE AUTHORITY; PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLIC ROADWAY TO BE KEPT IN OPERATION FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES; . . ."

HB 253: "AN ACT REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOLD AN ELECTION IF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE IN A MUNICIPALITY EXCEEDS $10,000; . . ."

HB 265: "AN ACT CLARIFYING THAT AN ACTION OF A PLANNING BOARD IS NOT OFFICIAL UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY A MAJORITY OF THE QUORUM PRESENT AT THE MEETING; . . ."

HB 330: "AN ACT CREATING THE MONTANA CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BOND ACT; AUTHORIZING GOVERNMENTAL BODIES TO OWN AND OPERATE QUALIFIED ENERGY PROJECTS; AUTHORIZING GOVERNMENTAL BODIES TO ISSUE CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BONDS TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION OR CONSTRUCTION OF QUALIFIED ENERGY PROJECTS; AUTHORIZING GOVERNMENTAL BODIES TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE AND CONSTRUCT QUALIFIED ENERGY PROJECTS; PROVIDING TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF THE

BONDS; . . ."

HJ 13; “A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA URGING THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS TO MAKE THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF AVAILABLE FOR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.”

SB 241: "AN ACT REQUIRING RECLAMATION PLANS FOR OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS; ESTABLISHING SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR RECLAMATION PLANS ON LANDS AFFECTED BY OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS; CONDITIONING PERFORMANCE BONDS FOR OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS UPON COMPLETION OF RECLAMATION PLAN REQUIREMENTS; . . ."

HB 381: "AN ACT ALLOWING A STATE PUBLIC AGENCY WHENEVER PROCURING FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION TO SPECIFY THAT THE FOOD MUST BE PRODUCED OR PROCESSED IN MONTANA; . . ."

HB 280: "AN ACT REVISING THE VOTE REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPOSING IMPACT FEES FOR A FACILITY LOCATED IN A DISTRICT THAT CROSSES COUNTY BOUNDARIES; . . ."

SB 173: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO THE STATE-TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION; TRANSFERRING ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT FOR THE STATE-TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE; ADDING A MEMBER TO THE COMMISSION; REPEALING THE TERMINATION DATE OF THE STATE-TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION; . . ."