Putting its small-business-owning members directly in touch with top policymakers is one of the many benefits of belonging to NFIB. And NFIB did just that on a May 30 virtual event when it invited House Speaker Brandon Ler and Senate President Matt Regier to give its members a rundown on the recently concluded 2025 session of the Montana Legislature. 

“It was fairly smooth in the House,” said Ler. “I would say the biggest bill that pertains to small business would be tax reform.” Ditto, President Regier, although his chamber had none of the smoothness Ler’s had. 

“We had a few of the Republican senators team up with the Democrat senators and change the whole dynamic for the whole session,” said Regier. “What was unfortunate for me about it is … that changed from really debating the policies and it was more about personalities.” 

In spite of the changed dynamic in the Senate, “… we did get an incredible amount of legislation that was passed,” said Regier, who, like Ler, cited tax reform as the big accomplishment. 

On two other issues, Ler regretted a bill reducing the business equipment tax “did not make it across the finish line” but he promised to “keeping taking bite of that apple.” For Regier, property tax was the issue. “They call it property tax relief, but when you look at the map of it, it’s really just a property tax shift. Basically, it was just a reshuffle of the deck.” 

Both men took questions and touched upon other issues during the 43-minute Microsoft Teams meeting: 

— Unemployment insurance
— Workers compensation (Regier cautioned against too many PTSD cases)
— Licensing reform
— Tort reform
— Local option sales tax
— Right to repair (Ler said he has a different take on the issue)
— Local government financing
— Retail theft. 

NFIB Regional State Director Greg Biryla gave an update on the status of NFIB’s No. 1 federal priority, the Small Business Tax Deduction. The virtual event was hosted by NFIB Montana State Director Ronda Wiggers and coordinated by NFIB Grassroots Manager Kylie Barber.  

Click the arrow below to hear the virtual event.