Big Sky Times

The Montana Legislature is intensifying its efforts to meet the April 3 deadline for passing money bills. The upcoming week will see a focus on these revenue-related proposals, following last week's balanced attention on both transmitted bills and revenue measures.

House Bill 2, which outlines the state budget, was passed swiftly in the House with minimal debate. While the Senate is not anticipated to make substantial changes, some disagreements between the chambers remain. The legislative process is expected to conclude by mid-April.

Several significant bills were discussed last week. HB 245 aims to extend and expand tax credits for trades education and training until 2028. It has yet to be acted upon by the Senate Education Committee.

SB 270 addresses employee termination over legal social media activity and has been amended favorably for small businesses. It awaits further debate in the House.

SB 22 revises independent contractor laws to protect businesses from issues arising from lapses or fraudulent documentation of contractor licenses. It has progressed to the House floor after amendments involving NFIB's participation.

SB 95 proposes revisions to theft laws, re-criminalizing petty theft partially funded by marijuana tax revenue. Although supported by NFIB, concerns about funding allocation could impact its success.

SB 216 seeks balance in product liability laws, aiming to prevent retailers from being unfairly implicated in lawsuits solely due to their role as sellers. This bill is also backed by NFIB.

Looking ahead, HB 836 will be discussed on March 27 regarding insurance regulatory waivers and innovative safety programs. On March 29, SB 364 will address hospital charge limits proposed at 250% of Medicare rates, affecting private insurance costs.

Other notable legislation includes HB 896 and LC 3945, both focusing on workers' compensation laws with potential implications for State Fund policies and risk pools.

Both legislative chambers are expected to prioritize revenue bills this Friday and Saturday ahead of Monday’s third reading deadline. The window for introducing new bills this session is narrowing rapidly.

For ongoing updates and detailed tracking of legislative developments, refer to NFIB's Legislative Preference list online.