The Legislature is now in full stride.  Committees are working through executive action, sending bills to the floor and we’re seeing some bills being transmitted to the other house.  It’s been a busy week for this office in preparation for the committee hearing for HB 40 (Gallik) the bill that amends the “Big Sky on the Big Screen Act.” 

In addition to the film bill, 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.

Highlights for the week:

HB 40 (Gallik):  Revise state movie incentive laws. Committee Hearing in House Taxation was held Friday 1/19/07 with no action taken.  Commerce - Montana Promotion Division supported the passage of this bill with several proponents testifying in favor of the bill with no opponents. This bill will revise the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act by increasing the percentage of incentives, eliminating the cap and simplifying the application fee.

HB 106 (Cordier):  Removes Commerce as ombudsman regarding Flathead Lake management.  Passed third reading in the House by unanimous vote and has been referred to Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee.

SB 284 (Moss):  Introduced and referred to Senate Local Government Committee.  No hearing scheduled yet.  This is the bill commonly referred to as the Tourism Partners’ Plan – Best Place First Initiative.

Legislative Activity next week:

HB 147 (Jopek):  Revise and clarify application of bed tax and sales and use tax.  Scheduled for hearing in House Taxation next Tuesday, 1/23/07.  This bill would require intermediaries to pay the bed tax and the vehicle rental tax on on-line bookings.   

HB 235 (Dutton):  Business Improvement district law:  Scheduled for hearing in House Local Government Committee Tuesday 1/23/07.  This is the bill would enable tourism entities to set up a business improvement district.

The chart below is for introduced bills that may have 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) Hearing-- (H) Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Education	01/23/2007; 8 AM, Rm 472	General appropriations act
HB 5	Tim Callahan	(H) Hearing-- (H) Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long Range Planning	01/09/2007; 8 AM, Rm 350	Long-range building appropriations
HB 9	Dave Kasten	(H) Hearing-- (H) Joint Appropriations Subcommittee on Long Range Planning	02/12/2007; 8 AM, Rm 350	Cultural and aesthetic grants
HB 40	Dave Gallik	(H) Hearing-- (H) Taxation	01/19/2007; 8 AM, Rm 152	Revise state movie incentive laws
HB 100	Bob Bergren	(H) Hearing-- (H) Taxation	01/11/2007; 8 AM, Rm 152	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) Hearing-- (H) Taxation	01/23/2007; 8 AM, Rm 152	Revise and clarify application of bed tax and sales and use tax
HB 199	William J Jones	(H) Hearing-- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	01/18/2007; 3 PM, Rm 152	Water-based recreational access donations/donor recognition
HB 235	Ernie Dutton	(H) Hearing-- (H) Local Government	01/23/2007; 3 PM, Rm 172	Business improvement district law
HB 284	Shannon Augare	(H) Hearing-- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	01/23/2007; 3 PM, Rm 152	Fund improvement at state park - agreement with Little Shell Tribe to maintain
HB 299	Mike Milburn	(H) Hearing-- (H) Business and Labor	01/19/2007; 8 AM, Rm 172	Revise laws governing ski areas and passenger ropeways
HB 348	Jim Keane	(H) Hearing-- (H) Business and Labor	01/23/2007; 8 AM, Rm 172	Increase out-of-state snowmobile fees
HB 377	Harry Klock	(H) Introduced	01/18/2007	Appropriation for forest service history museum and education center
HJ 3	John L Musgrove	(S) Referred to Committee-- (S) Highways and Transportation	01/17/2007	Urge port of Wild Horse be kept open 24 hours
HJ 12	Kevin T Furey	(H) Hearing-- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	02/01/2007; 3 PM, Rm 152	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) Hearing-- (S) Taxation	01/12/2007; 9 AM, Rm 405	Revise law on agency access to tax and revenue information
SB 78	Lane L Larson	(S) Hearing-- (S) Fish and Game	01/18/2007; 3 PM, Rm 422	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) Referred to Committee-- (S) Judiciary	12/21/2006	Revise outfitter laws/ felony outfitting without license
SB 106	Sam Kitzenberg	(S) Hearing-- (S) Fish and Game	01/16/2007; 3 PM, Rm 422	Portion of Brush Lake as state park
SB 107	Sam Kitzenberg	(S) Hearing-- (S) Fish and Game	01/16/2007; 3 PM, Rm 422	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) Hearing-- (S) Taxation	01/18/2007; 9 AM, Rm 405	Tax reform study committee
SB 233	Jim Elliott	(S) Hearing-- (S) Taxation	01/18/2007; 9 AM, Rm 405	Allow multiple counties to create museum districts
SB 275	Sam Kitzenberg	(S) Hearing-- (S) Taxation	01/19/2007; 9 AM, Rm 405	Local option sales tax
SB 284	Lynda Moss	(S) Referred to Committee-- (S) Local Government	01/17/2007	Revise allocation of bed tax and taxes on rental cars
SB 299	Lynda Moss	(S) Referred to Committee-- (S) Local Government	01/18/2007	Revise laws on historic preservation and cultural tourism
SB 301	Lynda Moss	(S) Referred to Committee-- (S) Local Government	01/18/2007	Authorize bond issuance for historic preservation
SJ 3	Dan Weinberg	(S) Referred to Committee-- (S) Education and Cultural Resources	01/18/2007	Urge funding for restoration of parks, battlefields, and monuments
SR 2	Sam Kitzenberg	(S) Referred to Committee-- (S) Fish and Game	01/19/2007	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…

 

PO Box 200533  •  Helena MT 59620-0501
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