Montana Legislature Passes Half-Way Point of 2021 Session

NFIB in thick of lobbying activity for bills helpful for small businesses

State Director Ronda Wiggers reports from Helena on the small-business agenda for the legislative and political week ending March 5

I am happy to report that the 2021 Legislative Session is officially half done! All bills introduced after this point must involve money—either appropriations or tax.

It is time to evaluate NFIB’s progress and take inventory of what work remains to be done. I have updated the watch list so that it no longer includes bills that are dead or no longer of interest.

Bills NFIB supported/monitored signed into law

SB 65, Revise civil liability laws (Covid liability) – support
SB 66, Generally revise the Montana Business Corporation Act – monitor
SB 118, Revise laws relating to false statements to employers & workers’ compensation – supported (this one is only in enrolling, not yet signed)

Bills NFIB is SUPPORTING and their current status

HB 252, Non-refundable tax credit for employer-paid education of trade professions – passed House – Scheduled for hearing (S) Tax, 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9
HB 254, Revise the wrongful discharge act – passed House – Scheduled for hearing (S) B&L, 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10
HB 303, Revise business equipment tax laws: BIG Jobs Act – passed the House and the Senate Tax committee – awaiting Senate floor action
HB 407, Establish a statewide uniformity for auxiliary container regulations – passed the House and referred to Senate B&L
SB 91, Require fiscal notes to include business impact – passed the Senate – referred to House State Admin
SB 159, Personal Income Tax Relief Act – passed the Senate – scheduled for hearing (H) Tax, 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10
SB 182 Generally revise laws on state finance, reducing tax rate (trigger bill) – passed the Senate – Scheduled for hearing in (H) Tax, 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 10
SB 260 Generally revise related to property interests & transfer of businesses – passed the Senate and referred to House B&L

Bills NFIB is OPPOSING and their current status

None

Bills NFIB supported that lost

None

Bills NFIB opposed that are TABLED/Defeated

HB 187, Provide for local option sales tax
HB 228, Establish family medical leave insurance
HB 265, Phase out use of Styrofoam in food-related businesses
HB 284, Provide living wage
HB 351, Revise disability parking laws
HB 412, Restore right for worker to choose treating physician in workers’ compensation
HB 431, Revise property tax on intangible personal property
HB 486, Provide an increase in minimum wage
HB 500, Generally revise labor laws
HB 511, Generally revise laws relating to the Montana State Fund
HB 512, Generally revise workers’ compensation laws relating to Montana State Fund
HB 513, Generally revise workers’ compensation laws relating to Montana State Fund
HB 514, Revise workers’ compensation laws relating to the Montana State Fund
HB 512, Revising property exempt from execution
HB 550, Establish presumption in workers’ compensation for COVID-19
SB 11, Increase minimum corporate income tax
SB 187, Increase minimum wage
SB 289, Revise employment application by eliminating reference to criminal record
SB 313, Provide for local option tax: MT tax Fairness and Rural Revenue Initiative
SB 322, Generally revise workers’ compensation laws related to Montana State Fund

Bills NFIB monitored that were TABLED/Defeated

HB 125, Provide exemption from income tax withholding
HB 149, Allow certain card transaction fees
HB 175, Generally revising consumer good repair laws
HB 251, Implement right-to-work
HB 372, Eliminate business equipment tax – this bill was not vetted correctly and had a huge fiscal note, so we stayed out.
HB 415, Prohibit discrimination based on vaccination status
SB 132, Require accommodations to employer-mandated vaccinations to be uniformly offered

NFIB continues to monitor about 30 bills that could have minor effects on business. Many of these are not a clear positive/negative change, just a change. Therefore, we monitor them and report to our members any changes if they should pass.

This week’s hearings

Tuesday, March 9
- 9 a.m. Senate Tax Committee: HB 252 Non-refundable tax credit for employer-paid education of trade professions

Wednesday, March 10:
- 8 a.m. House Tax Committee: SB 159 Personal Income Tax Relief Act; SB 182 Generally revise laws on state finance, reducing tax rate if conditions met – the trigger bill; SB 184 Montana Entrepreneur Magnet Act