As mentioned last week, we have passed several more deadlines; this Tuesday (4/3/07) was the deadline for transmittal of revenue bills (71st day) and Thursday (4/5/07) was transmittal of amendments for general bills (73rd day).  The Legislators have headed home for the Easter break so it is a good time to talk to them about your issues.  They are scheduled to be back here in Helena on Monday.

The highlight of this week as it relates to tourism and film legislation was SB 284 (Moss/Perry) Revise allocation of bed tax and taxes on rental cars – “The Best Place First Bill”.  In the House Taxation Committee, the bill had its funding cut to approximately $3.8 million and a statutory appropriation added.  SB 284 passed the House on 3rd Reading by 86-13.  The bill has been returned to the Senate.

Highlights from this past week:

HB 40 (Gallik) Revise state movie incentive laws – “Big Sky on the Big Screen Act”.  This bill was tabled in Senate Taxation on a 6-5 vote. This bill would increase the tax credit on both employment and qualified expenditures, eliminate the million dollar cap, and simplify the application process. The bill, as amended, would increase the tax credits (employment tax credit to 14% and qualified expenditures to 9%) and includes a requirement that production companies certify in writing that Montana vendors have been paid in full prior to claiming any tax credits. With the Legislators home for Easter break, this would be a great time to contact the Senators and show your support for this bill. 

HB 235 (Dutton) Business improvement district law.  This bill was passed by the Senate and returned to the House with amendments.  It is scheduled for 2nd reading in the House on Monday, April 9, 2007.
 
Upcoming highlights:

HB 9 (Kasten) Cultural and aesthetic grants.  This bill has a hearing scheduled before Senate Finance and Claims on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 8:00 am in Room 317.

HB 480 (Lake) Fund restoration and maintenance of Daly mansion.  This bill has a hearing scheduled before Senate Finance and Claims on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 8:00 am in Room 317.

HB 519 (Kasten) Fund Montana cowboy hall of fame.  This bill has a hearing scheduled before Senate Finance and Claims on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 8:00 am in Room 317.

HB 539 (Groesbeck) Appropriate funds for Butte-Silver Bow cultural development.  This bill has a hearing scheduled before Senate Finance and Claims on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 8:00 am in Room 317.

HB 574 (Hiner) Assist Deer Lodging in rebuilding the Rialto theater. This bill has a hearing scheduled before Senate Finance and Claims on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 8:00 am in Room 317.

HB 830 (Kasten) Appropriate money for construction & maintenance of public buildings and systems.   This bill has a hearing scheduled before Senate Finance and Claims on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 8:00 am in Room 317.

The Montana Promotion Division is monitoring a number of bills that effect administration of state programs, as well as various aspects of the tourism and film industry.  The chart below is for introduced bills that may have a direct impact on the accommodation tax or issues important to the tourism and film industry. 

When looking at the status of a bill on this chart, here are some helpful hints:

• Referred to committee means the bill has been assigned to the committee, but the hearing date has not been set.
• Hearing means a hearing is scheduled.

Bill Type - Number	Primary Sponsor	Status	Status Date	Short Title
HB 9	Dave Kasten	(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims	04/10/2007; 8 AM, Rm 317	Cultural and aesthetic grants
HB 40	Dave Gallik	(S) Tabled in Committee -- (S) Taxation	04/02/2007	Revise state movie incentive laws
HB 106	Douglas Cordier	Chapter Number Assigned	03/22/2007	Remove Commerce as ombudsman regarding Flathead Lake management
HB 235	Ernie Dutton	(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	04/09/2007	Business improvement district law
HB 284	Shannon Augare	(H) Transmitted to Governor	03/29/2007	Improve Giant Springs state park - agreement with Little Shell Tribe
HB 299	Mike Milburn	(S) Returned to House with Amendments	04/04/2007	Revise laws governing ski areas and passenger ropeways
HB 348	Jim Keane	(H) Returned from Enrolling	04/04/2007	Increase out-of-state snowmobile fees
HB 480	Bob Lake	(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims	04/10/2007; 8 AM, Rm 317	Fund restoration and maintenance of Daly mansion
HB 519	Dave Kasten	(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims	04/10/2007; 8 AM, Rm 317	Fund Montana cowboy hall of fame
HB 531	Carol Lambert	Chapter Number Assigned	03/30/2007	Designate warrior trail
HB 539	George G Groesbeck	(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims	04/10/2007; 8 AM, Rm 317	Appropriate funds for Butte-Silver Bow cultural development
HB 574	Cynthia Hiner	(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims	04/10/2007; 8 AM, Rm 317	Assist Deer Lodge in rebuilding Rialto theater
HB 759	Gordon R Hendrick	(S) Returned to House with Amendments	03/23/2007	Revise fee system funding search & rescue
HB 830	Dave Kasten	(S) Hearing -- (S) Finance and Claims	04/10/2007; 8 AM, Rm 317	Appropriate money for construction & maintenance of public buildings and systems
HJ 3	John L Musgrove	(H) Filed with Secretary of State	02/12/2007	Urge port of Wild Horse be kept open 24 hours
SB 29	Frank Smith	Chapter Number Assigned	03/27/2007	Establish Robert E. Ewing Jr. memorial highway
SB 76	Kim Gillan	Chapter Number Assigned	03/27/2007	Revise law on agency access to tax and revenue information
SB 78	Lane L Larson	(H) Tabled in Committee -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	04/04/2007	Clarify stream access from bridges
SB 88	Bob Hawks	Chapter Number Assigned	03/30/2007	Extend indefinitely funding to heritage preservation and development account
SB 100	Larry Jent	(H) Returned to Senate with Amendments	04/04/2007	Revise outfitter laws/ felony outfitting without license
SB 174	Jim Elliott	(H) Hearing -- (H) Taxation	04/03/2007; 8 AM, Rm 152	Revise laws on revenue administration
SB 233	Jim Elliott	(H) Returned to Senate with Amendments	04/04/2007	Allow multiple counties to create museum districts
SB 284	Lynda Moss	(H) Returned to Senate with Amendments	04/04/2007	Revise allocation of bed tax and taxes on rental cars
SB 299	Lynda Moss	(S) Returned from Enrolling	04/04/2007	Revise laws on historic preservation and cultural tourism
SB 301	Lynda Moss	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	04/03/2007; 8 AM, Rm 102	Authorize bond issuance for historic preservation
SB 318	Jim Peterson	(S) Returned from Enrolling	04/04/2007	Extend recreational use immunity to aircraft
SB 418	Dan Weinberg	(H) Tabled in Committee -- (H) Taxation	03/29/2007	Revise distribution of lodging facility use taxes
SB 431	Greg Lind	(H) Committee Report--Bill Concurred -- (H) Natural Resources	04/03/2007	Revise standards for hot springs
SB 525	Jim Elliott	(H) Returned to Senate with Amendments	04/04/2007	Clarify duties of state treasurer regarding deposit of tax and fees
SJ 3	Dan Weinberg	(H) Hearing -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	04/03/2007; 3 PM, Rm 303	Urge funding for restoration of parks, battlefields, and monuments

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Remember, the legislature has now set up a system for contacting representatives by e-mail. 
http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/60th/default.asp

Until next week…