Helena, Montana 59601

Phone/Fax 406-443-2370

February 6, 2007

LOBBYIST ACTIVITY REPORT

2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

WEEK FIVE

(January 28 – February 3, 2007)

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

HB 36: "AN ACT REPEALING THE TERMINATION DATE FOR INCREASING THE LIMIT TO $3 MILLION FOR A LOAN TO A WATER USERS' ASSOCIATION OR DITCH COMPANY FROM THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM STATE SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT OR THE RENEWABLE RESOURCE LOAN PROCEEDS ACCOUNT; . . .” This bill is a continuation of legislation that was enacted by the 2005 Legislature in SB 498. In the 2005 Legislative Session, the bill authorized an increase in the loan amount from $300,000.00 to $3million with a sunset date of June 30, 2007. Due to the cost of construction and repairs to water users or ditch company facilities and the utility of this loan program, it was determined that removing the sunset date would be advantageous to potential users. I provided testimony in support of this bill.

HB 426: "AN ACT REMOVING THE $500,000 LIMIT ON A COUNTY'S ROAD AND BRIDGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND; . . .” This proposed legislation would allow the County Commissioners to exercise their discretion in determining the appropriate amount of money that should be in the county’s road and bridge capital investment fund. This legislation would simply remove the statutory $500,000.00 limitation that exists in the present law. I provided testimony in support of this bill.

HB 2: “AN ACT APPROPRIATING MONEY TO VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES FOR THE BIENNIUM ENDING, JUNE 30, 2009; AND PROVIDING AND EFFECTIVE DATE.” This legislative hearing was on the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s budget for the 2009 Biennium. I provided testimony in support of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s budget in the areas of the support for the Conservation Districts Programs, the Renewable Resource Grant Program and the Irrigation Development Grant Program.

HB 463: "AN ACT REVISING NEW BUSINESS PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVES; CREATING PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVES FOR NEW AND EXPANDING BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROPERTY; ALLOWING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAX ABATEMENTS FOR NEW AND EXPANDING BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROPERTY; REMOVING NEW INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY FROM CLASS FIVE PROPERTY; ELIMINATING CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATED TO A MAJOR INDUSTRIAL FACILITY; RESTRICTING THE APPLICATION OF THE PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FOR NEW INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY; ELIMINATING THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX INCENTIVE FOR VALUE ADDED-MANUFACTURING; . . .” The purpose of this proposed legislation is to provide enhanced economic development opportunities to attract businesses to locate in Montana and for businesses to expand in Montana. I provided testimony in support of this bill.

SB 416: "AN ACT APPROPRIATING GENERAL FUND MONEY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO BE USED FOR GRANTS TO ASSIST COUNTIES IN LAND USE PLANNING ACTIVITIES; PROVIDING AN ALLOCATION FORMULA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; . . ." This proposed legislation would provide for a One Time Only appropriation in FY 2008 to each County for their County Planning efforts. The funding source for this one time program would be from the General Fund. The amount of funding that each county would receive would be based on the population of the County and the percentage of growth they have been experiencing. In those Counties that are not experiencing any growth, their allocation would be based on a minimum of $2.00 for each resident. This would equate to approximately $19,000 to $20,000 in Richland County. I provided testimony in support of this bill.

HB 334: "AN ACT REMOVING THE TIME RESTRICTIONS ON THE DESIGN-BUILD HIGHWAY CONTRACT PROCESS FOR HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS; . . .” I monitored this proposed legislation. This bill was introduced at the request of the Montana Department of Transportation.

HB 369: "AN ACT INCREASING THE AMOUNTS THAT A COUNTY MAY BORROW WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE; . . .” I monitored this proposed legislation. This would allow the County Commissioners to exercise more discretion in determining the amount that a county may borrow without a vote of the electorate.

HB 374: "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LOANS OR GRANTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, AND REMODELING OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES; PROVIDING FOR A FUND TRANSFER; PROVIDING A STATUTORY APPROPRIATION; . . .” I monitored this proposed legislation. The purpose of this proposed legislation is self-explanatory.

SB 308: "AN ACT ALLOWING CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNERS TO VOTE IN A ROAD LEVY ELECTION; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." I monitored this proposed legislation. The purpose of this proposed legislation certain property owners to vote in road levy elections if they possess all of the qualifications required of electors under the general election laws of the state and meet other specific requirements that are outlined in the proposed legislation.

HB 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; . . .” I monitored this proposed legislation. The purpose of this proposed legislation is self-explanatory.