The Commerce Appropriation Subcommittee concluded with executive action on Tuesday.  The Montana Promotion Division had one decision package which was to increase our authority to accept private dollars for the annual tourism conference, cooperative advertising campaigns, publication advertisements and website links.  MPD presentation was well received with few questions and approval of the decision package.  

The Montana Promotion Division has been active this past week testifying on as well as monitoring a number of bills that effect administration of state programs, as well as various aspects of the tourism and film industry.

Highlights for the week:

HB 106 (Cordier):  Removes Commerce as ombudsman regarding Flathead Lake management.  Passed second reading in the House by unanimous vote.

SB 29 (F.  Smith): Establish Robert E. Ewing Jr. memorial highway. Transmitted to House with a vote of 48 -1.

SB 88 (Hawks):  Extends allocation funding to heritage preservation and development account.  This bill extends the $400,000 lodging facility use tax to the MT Heritage Commission for an additional four years.  (Sunset date 6/30/2011)
Transmitted to House with a vote of 48-1.

 

Legislative Activity next week:

HB 40 (Gallik):  Revise state movie incentive laws:
We anticipate a Committee Hearing in House Taxation on Friday 1/19/07 at 8:00 a.m.
This bill will revise the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act: increase the percentage of incentives, eliminate the cap and simplify the application fee.

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 Natural Resources and Commerce	01/16/2007; 8 AM, Rm 317C	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) Referred to Committee-- (H) Appropriations	01/03/2007	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	(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading	01/15/2007	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) Referred to Committee-- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	01/09/2007	Water-based recreational access donations/donor recognition
HB 235	Ernie Dutton	(H) Introduced	01/08/2007	Business improvement district law
HB 284	Shannon Augare	(H) Referred to Committee-- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	01/11/2007	Fund improvement at state park - agreement with Little Shell Tribe to maintain
HB 299	Mike Milburn	(H) Referred to Committee-- (H) Business and Labor	01/11/2007	Revise laws governing ski areas and passenger ropeways
HJ 3	John L Musgrove	(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	01/15/2007	Urge port of Wild Horse be kept open 24 hours
HJ 12	Kevin T Furey	(H) Referred to Committee-- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	01/11/2007	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) 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 233	Jim Elliott	(S) Referred to Committee-- (S) Taxation	01/10/2007	Allow multiple counties to create museum districts

 

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
406.841.2870  •  406.841.2871 (fax)