Several of the tourism bills that Travel Montana has been tracking had action this past week.  Most notably, was the executive action on SB 284 (Moss): Tourism Partners Plan – “Best Place First Initiative”.  Senator Moss, the bill sponsor, offered up several amendments to the bill late last night during executive action in Senate Local Government Committee. (This has not yet been updated in the LAWS system and so the report following doesn’t reflect this action). The amendments that were introduced drastically alter the bill.  The funding level is reduced from $14.8 million to $1.7 million and all but the following partners are eliminated; the Montana Historical Society which includes funding for the preservation and acquisition of heritage properties, Tourism Regions and CVBs with a funding cap of $500,000, and Tribal Tourism promotion.  The vote on the amendments was (9-2) with the amended bill passing out of the committee with a vote of (8-3).   Committee Chairwoman Gillan stated the bill will be sent directly to the Senate Finance Committee. This hearing could happen as early as next week. In its current state, this bill is no longer the tourism partners plan.

Highlights from this past week:

HB 235 (Dutton):  Business Improvement district law, this bill commonly referred to as the Billings BID proposal would expand business improvement districts to include tourism promotion options and for assessment of costs.  This bill passed 3rd Reading (64-36) and is transmitted to the Senate.

HB 299 (Milburn):  Revise laws governing ski areas and passenger ropeways. This bill passed third reading (66-34) and is transmitted to the Senate.

HB 517 (Branae): – Revise scenic byways laws This bill will remove certain means by which a roadway may be excluded and includes expertise in tribal issues by a member of the advisory council.  Hearing took place in House Transportation Committee last Monday with both proponents and opponents.  Both Travel Montana and Dept. of Transportation were present to provide information.

SB 299 (Moss): Revise laws on historic preservation and cultural tourism, this bill authorizes state agencies to lease state-owned historic buildings to parties who will preserve and use them, or exchange them for other comparable properties.  It also authorizes the creation of heritage preservation & cultural tourism commissions.  It is scheduled for 2nd reading in the Senate today.

SB 418 (Weinberg): revise distribution of lodging facility use taxes for certain qualifying cities.  This bill adds a new category of entity that qualifies as a CVB within the lodging facility use tax law to include a zoning district.  Hearing took place in Senate Taxation Room last Thursday with a few proponents, no opponents.  Travel Montana and Dept. of Revenue were present to provide information.

 Upcoming highlights:

HB 667 (O’Hara): Funding for Lewis and Clark Tourism Site endowments. This bill allocates $2 million from the general fund to the Montana Heritage Commission for a grant program to Lewis and Clark Sites.  The hearing is scheduled in the House Administration Committee Room 455, Wednesday, 2/21/07.

A reminder, that transmittal date is fast approaching on February 28, 2007.  This is a point where all general (non-revenue) bills must be passed to the other Chamber.  Immediately following transmittal, March 1-4, 2007, all legislators head home for a well deserved break.  This is an opportune time to meet with your local legislators to discuss legislation that are pertinent to your local areas.

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.  There are several un-introduced bills and once they have been narrowed down we will include a list on future notices.

 

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 2	John Sinrud	(H) Tabled in Committee-- (H) Appropriations	02/14/2007	General appropriations act
HB 5	Tim Callahan	(H) Hearing-- (H) Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long Range Planning	02/06/2007; 8 AM, Rm 472	Long-range building appropriations
HB 9	Dave Kasten	(H) Hearing-- (H) Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long Range Planning	02/13/2007; 8 AM, Rm 350	Cultural and aesthetic grants
HB 40	Dave Gallik	(H) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended-- (H) Taxation	02/06/2007	Revise state movie incentive laws
HB 100	Bob Bergren	(H) Tabled in Committee-- (H) Taxation	01/26/2007	Improve management of DOR collection responsibilities
HB 106	Douglas Cordier	(S) Referred to Committee-- (S) Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs	01/16/2007	Remove Commerce as ombudsman regarding Flathead Lake management
HB 147	Mike Jopek	(H) Tabled in Committee-- (H) Taxation	01/31/2007	Revise and clarify application of bed tax and sales and use tax
HB 199	William J Jones	(H) Hearing-- (H) Appropriations	02/16/2007; 9 AM, Rm 102	Water-based recreational access donations/donor recognition
HB 235	Ernie Dutton	(H) Transmitted to Senate	02/14/2007	Business improvement district law
HB 284	Shannon Augare	(H) Tabled in Committee-- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	02/02/2007	Fund improvement at state park - agreement with Little Shell Tribe to maintain
HB 299	Mike Milburn	(H) Transmitted to Senate	02/14/2007	Revise laws governing ski areas and passenger ropeways
HB 348	Jim Keane	(H) Rereferred to Committee-- (H) Appropriations	01/26/2007	Increase out-of-state snowmobile fees
HB 377	Harry Klock	(H) Hearing-- (H) Appropriations	01/30/2007; UPON ADJ, Rm 102	Appropriation for forest service history museum and education center
HB 451	Julie French	(H) Hearing-- (H) Appropriations	02/12/2007; UPON ADJ, Rm 102	Small town renewal program
HB 480	Bob Lake	(H) Hearing-- (H) Appropriations	02/06/2007; UPON ADJ, Rm 102	Fund restoration, operation, and maintenance of Daly mansion
HB 517	Gary Branae	(H) Hearing-- (H) Transportation	02/12/2007; 3 PM, Rm 455	Revise scenic byways laws
HB 519	Dave Kasten	(H) Hearing-- (H) Appropriations	02/13/2007; 9 AM, Rm 102	Fund Montana cowboy hall of fame
HB 531	Carol Lambert	(H) Hearing-- (H) Transportation	02/12/2007; 3 PM, Rm 455	Designate warrior trail
HB 539	George G Groesbeck	(H) Hearing-- (H) Appropriations	02/13/2007; 9 AM, Rm 102	Appropriate funds for Butte-Silver Bow cultural development
HB 574	Cynthia Hiner	(H) Referred to Committee-- (H) Appropriations	02/06/2007	Assist Deer Lodge in rebuilding Rialto theater
HB 667	Jesse O'Hara	(H) Hearing-- (H) State Administration	02/21/2007; 8 AM, Rm 455	Funding for Lewis and Clark tourism site endowments
HB 691	Dan Villa	(H) Hearing-- (H) Education	02/19/2007; 3 PM, Rm 137	Create Montana Film Arts Program
HJ 3	John L Musgrove	(H) Filed with Secretary of State	02/12/2007	Urge port of Wild Horse be kept open 24 hours
HJ 12	Kevin T Furey	(H) Tabled in Committee-- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	02/07/2007	Urge designation of Milltown dam reclamation area as state park
SB 29	Frank Smith	(S) Transmitted to House	01/12/2007	Establish Robert E. Ewing Jr. memorial highway
SB 76	Kim Gillan	(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	02/16/2007	Revise law on agency access to tax and revenue information
SB 78	Lane L Larson	(S) Transmitted to House	02/10/2007	Clarify stream access from bridges
SB 88	Bob Hawks	(S) Transmitted to House	01/10/2007	Extend allocation of funding to heritage preservation and development account
SB 100	Larry Jent	(S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended-- (S) Fish and Game	02/16/2007	Revise outfitter laws/ felony outfitting without license
SB 106	Sam Kitzenberg	(S) Tabled in Committee-- (S) Fish and Game	01/23/2007	Portion of Brush Lake as state park
SB 107	Sam Kitzenberg	(S) Tabled in Committee-- (S) Fish and Game	01/23/2007	Portion of Culbertson overlook as state park
SB 174	Jim Elliott	(S) Hearing-- (S) Taxation	01/11/2007; 9 AM, Rm 405	Revise laws on revenue administration
SB 231	Joseph (Joe) Tropila	(S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended-- (S) Taxation	02/08/2007	Tax reform study committee
SB 233	Jim Elliott	(S) Transmitted to House	02/07/2007	Allow multiple counties to create museum districts
SB 275	Sam Kitzenberg	(S) 2nd Reading Indefinitely Postponed*	02/14/2007	Local option sales tax
SB 284	Lynda Moss	(S) Hearing-- (S) Local Government	02/06/2007; 3 PM, Rm 317A	Revise allocation of bed tax and taxes on rental cars
SB 299	Lynda Moss	(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	02/16/2007	Revise laws on historic preservation and cultural tourism
SB 301	Lynda Moss	(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	02/16/2007	Authorize bond issuance for historic preservation
SB 318	Jim Peterson	(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading	02/16/2007	Extend recreational use immunity to aircraft
SB 320	Kim Gillan	(S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended-- (S) Local Government	02/02/2007	Revise resort tax -- delete population and designation requirement
SB 418	Dan Weinberg	(S) Committee Report--Bill Passed-- (S) Taxation	02/16/2007	Revise distribution of lodging facility use taxes
SB 431	Greg Lind	(S) Hearing-- (S) Natural Resources and Energy	02/14/2007; 3 PM, Rm 422	Revise standards for hot springs
SB 520	Carolyn Squires	(S) Introduced	02/16/2007	Revise registration of fleet vehicles
SJ 3	Dan Weinberg	(S) Transmitted to House	02/08/2007	Urge funding for restoration of parks, battlefields, and monuments
SR 2	Sam Kitzenberg	(S) Tabled in Committee-- (S) Fish and Game	02/01/2007	Urge purchase of Brush Lake and Culbertson overlook as state parks

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…

 

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