Because they just can’t help themselves, the Senate changed the make-up of the Committee on Committees and then changed and adopted rules on Tuesday (April 8). The minority leader now has veto power over the appointment of conference committee members. Although this had caused much disagreement for many weeks, the actual motion and vote had very little debate. But it did leave everyone a bit hostile.

As we are now nearing the end of the legislative session, we have very little still moving through the process.

Last week, House Local Government chose to TABLE SB 418, that would have prohibited local governments from dis-allowing home-based businesses. The League of Cities was successful in pointing out that this is not happening anywhere in Montana and was an unnecessary law.

As the business lobby did not feel we could completely stop HB 477, the bill to phase out the use of polystyrene food containers, we were successful at putting an amendment on in the Senate Natural Resource committee that gave businesses 10 years to comply. However, the agreement was abandoned on the Senate floor and the amendment was stripped, putting the bill back into its’ original format.  We will try to defeat the bill on third reading on Monday (April 14).

We were successful in passing Rep. Courtney Sprunger’s HB 226 that provides for proof of legal employment using the I-9, rather than the bill that would have required more regulation of small business owners.

Bills Still in Play

SB 345 Revise worker’s compensation laws relating to evidentiary standards
SB 345 is still sitting in House Business & Labor. We are working with other business organizations to get it across the finish line.

The bill will help injured workers get back to life, their family and work faster, by making it a bit easier to get to specialists on troubled claims. And, recognizing sometimes it is an inconvenience to travel to a specialist, provides for benefits not otherwise provided under workers’ compensation.

The bill requires the Judge to impartially weigh medical expertise, experience, knowledge and relationship with the patient when assigning medical credibility. Current Montana law requires deference to the treating provider – we are the only state that does that.

The bill limits discovery of physicians to their background, work, and the issues at hand – not personal financial records.

SB 19 Revise Sentencing Laws related to theft
The bill to make theft less than $1,500 illegal again in Montana has made it through the Senate and then the House. However, the House made an amendment that added “theft of identity” to the bill, so it now needs to go back to the Senate for its concurrence. As the sponsor was in agreement with the amendment, there should be no problem.

SB 528 Revising laws related to credit card transaction fees
This is the bill that while making clear that these fees are legal, limits them to 3% and requires up-front disclosure. This has passed the Senate and the House, but the House added an amendment that says this particular fee limit does not apply to debt collection, so now it needs to go back to the Senate for one more vote. There will be no hearings.

SB 322 Increase the Business Equipment Tax exemption
SB 322 will have its first House hearing on Wednesday (April 16) in the House Tax Committee. This increases the exemption from $1 million to $3 million and is in the governor’s tax plan.

NFIB is now joining other business groups in working on the plethora of tax bills that have worked their way through the session. We are watching to ensure that small business is being treated fairly in all the proposed changes.

Prior Legislative Reports 

— April 6: House Passes Budget Bill, Senate Up Next

— March 29: Five NFIB-Backed Bills Now on Governor’s Desk

— March 22: NFIB-Backed Workers’ Compensation Bill on Governor’s Desk

— March 15: Legislature at Midway Point of 2025 Session

— March 1: Montana Legislature Shifts into Overdrive

— February 14, 22: Weekly Legislative Update

— February 7: NFIB Tracking Nearly 30 Measures Important to Small Business for Support, Opposition, or Tracking

—  February 2: NFIB-Supported Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Comp Bills Advance

— January 26: Legislature Simmers Down, Settles into Normal Pace

— January 20: Governor’s Property Tax Proposal Starts Legislative Run

— January 12: Chaotic Start to the 2025 Legislative Session

— January 6: Montana Legislature Starts its 2025 Session