Legislature Extends Bill Deadlines

Lawmakers now giving themselves until May 6 to wrap up business

State Director Ronda Wiggers reports from Helena on the small-business agenda for the legislative and political week ending April 7

When no one can agree on how to spend too much money – and a record number of bills have been introduced – the best solution is to move the deadlines to make decisions!

Legislative leadership moved the dates to transmit amendments to both general bills and revenue bills, cancelled a few Saturdays, and created what will likely be the final legislative calendar of the session. This happens about Easter of each session.

Transmittal of general bills is now next Tuesday, April 18. Amendments to revenue bills, including the Senate amendments to HB 2 (the state budget), now need to transmit on Day 82, which is April 26. Day 90 is now scheduled for May 6. Rumor is that we will be out about five days early and HB 2 appears to be on about that track. So much for the goal of getting done on Day 80!

We are at the point in session where things seem to all stand still and then move very quickly, all at once. This is because we are left with the more complicated or controversial issues and those that affect the budget. Until everyone can come to some kind of compromise, things seem to just stand still. As everyone agrees to compromises, the bills move in bunches toward the finish line, or die due to lack of compromise.

What Happened Last Week

HB 652 to revise unemployment insurance law relating to benefit duration was heard in the Senate Business & Labor Committee. The committee was concerned that the bill took Montana from the highest number of weeks in the nation to the lowest. The bill sponsor did not appear open to an amendment to split the difference, thus the committee voted to TABLE the bill.

SB 364 to establish limits on hospital related charges. As insurance costs continue to rise, Sen. Greg Hertz asked if NFIB would support his bill to limit hospital charges to 250% of Medicare reimbursement rates. A study he shared indicated that private pay insurance, carried by most small business owners, is often billed at the highest rates in a hospital setting. These additional costs affect everyone’s premium prices. This hearing was originally scheduled for last week, but it was postponed. A new hearing date has not yet been set.

What’s Happening This Week

NFIB currently has only have two bills of interest on the schedule for hearing next week:

Thursday, April 13—8 a.m. Senate Business & Labor Committee
HB 836 would revise insurance laws relating to regulatory waivers. This bill creates a regulatory sandbox in Montana. The bill would allow an insurer to test new safety and return to work programs, within the oversight of the Insurance Commissioner’s Office, to see what programs make a difference. Presently, insurers must treat similarly situated policyholders the same, not allowing them to test new ideas. To improve safety and return to work outcomes, we need to try new approaches with small groups, see what works, and then expand to all customers once solutions are found, improving the safety of workers and reducing costs for employers. (explanation borrowed, with permission, from the State Fund)

Thursday, April 13—8 a.m. Senate Finance & Claims Committee
HB 245 would revise the tax credit for trades education and training. The Senate Education Committee made slight amendments to this bill and passed it. Then the full Senate floor passed the bill 42–8. Now, Finance & Claims needs to look at the fiscal impact this will have on the state budget. The amendments were to correct the terminology of some of the professions allowed to use this training credit. This is extending and growing a fairly popular program for Montana businesses. The $2,000 tax credit for skilled trade employee training was set to expire in 2026 and this bill would extend that to 2028 and adds a large number of trades to the list eligible for the credit.

Other Bill of Interest

SB 270 to prohibit employee termination for legal social media posts. The sponsor accepted amendments from the business community in the Senate, which made this bill better for small business owners. The committee voted to concur on the bill and the full House is in the process of approval. Second reading vote was 71 – 28 and the third reading will be done this week.

SB 95 would generally revise theft laws. This repeals the changes that passed in 2017 that decriminalized petty theft. This increased shoplifting and bad check writing, as there is no real punishment. NFIB strongly supports this bill. This passed the House floor and has been sent to House Appropriations where committee members will look at the fiscal note to determine its effects on the state budget.

SB 216 to revise laws related to litigation and products was heard in the House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting its executive action. This bill is an attempt to make Montana’s product liability laws a bit more balanced. They currently favor the litigant by not allowing a number of issues to be brought to the jury. The bill would also eliminate product liability lawsuits against a retailer who did nothing other than bring the product in the back door and sell it out the front door. These businesses are often dragged into the lawsuit. NFIB is working to pass this legislation.

In case you have lost it, this link will take you to the NFIB Legislative Preference list and allow you to track bills in real time.

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