If you’ve been monitoring the Legislature this past week, you are no doubt aware of the frustration and confusion over how the state budget will be determined.  The uncertainty of the process along with the pressure of deadlines for transmittal of appropriation bills (67th day) and revenue bills (71st day) is creating a great deal of stress for both sides of the aisle which is increasing daily. 

The highlight of this week as it relates to tourism and film legislation was the hearing of SB 284 (Moss/Perry) Tourism Partners Plan – “Best Place First Initiative”.  This bill was heard in House Taxation in front of a packed conference room on Thursday.  Chairman Lake allowed nearly two hours for testimony by nearly 30 proponents and one opponent.  The committee is anticipated to take executive action some time next week.

Highlights from this past week:

HB 235 (Dutton) Business improvement district law.  This bill was heard on Thursday in front of the Senate Local Government committee.  There were several proponents from the Billings area as well as proponents from Missoula, Whitefish and Kalispell.  There were no opponents for this bill.  Some amendments were discussed and one in particular would require the Convention Visitors Bureau manager to also be the manager for the new BID created through this legislation.  

HB 480 (Lake) Fund restoration and maintenance of Daly mansion.  This bill was amended in the House Appropriations Committee.  As the bill currently stands $50,000 would be appropriated in each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 for the direct maintenance and restoration of the Daly mansion and grounds.  Additionally, $500,000 would be appropriated for the Daly mansion trust to be used as principal and from which spending is limited to interest earnings.  This bill is scheduled for 2nd reading on the House Floor, today, March 23.
 
HB 531 (Lambert):  Designate warrior trail.  This bill was signed by the Senate President and has been forwarded to the Governor for his action on the bill.

HB 539 (Groesbeck) Appropriate funds for Butte-Silver Bow cultural development.  This bill was tabled in the House Appropriation Committee.

HB 667 (O’Hara) Funding for Lewis and Clark tourism site endowments.  This bill was tabled in the House Appropriation Committee.

SB 88 (Hawks):  Extend the allocation of funds to the heritage preservation and development account.  The House removed the sunset date for the $400,000 heritage preservation and development account.  This bill has been signed by the Senate President and will be forwarded to the Governor for his action on the bill.

Upcoming highlights:

HB 40 (Gallik) “Amending the Big Sky on the Big Screen Act” was referred to the Senate Taxation Committee, but no hearing has been scheduled yet.

SB 233 (Elliot) Allow multiple counties to create museum districts. This bill is scheduled for hearing in House Taxation on Friday, March 30, at 8:00 a.m. in Room 152.

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.  This is scheduled for a hearing in the House Taxation Committee on Monday, March 26, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 152.

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 2	John Sinrud	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Appropriations	02/14/2007	General appropriations act
HB 5	Tim Callahan	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	03/22/2007; 8 AM, Rm 102	Long-range building appropriations
HB 9	Dave Kasten	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	03/22/2007; 8 AM, Rm 102	Cultural and aesthetic grants
HB 40	Dave Gallik	(S) Referred to Committee -- (S) Taxation	03/09/2007	Revise state movie incentive laws
HB 106	Douglas Cordier	(H) Transmitted to Governor	03/15/2007	Remove Commerce as ombudsman regarding Flathead Lake management
HB 235	Ernie Dutton	(S) Hearing -- (S) Local Government	03/22/2007; 3 PM, Rm 303	Business improvement district law
HB 284	Shannon Augare	(S) Hearing -- (S) Fish and Game	03/22/2007; 3 PM, Rm 422	Improve Giant Springs state park - agreement with Little Shell Tribe
HB 299	Mike Milburn	(S) Referred to Committee -- (S) Judiciary	03/07/2007	Revise laws governing ski areas and passenger ropeways
HB 348	Jim Keane	(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	03/23/2007	Increase out-of-state snowmobile fees
HB 377	Harry Klock	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Appropriations	03/20/2007	Appropriation for forest service history museum and education center
HB 451	Julie French	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Appropriations	03/20/2007	Small town renewal program
HB 480	Bob Lake	(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading	03/23/2007	Fund restoration and maintenance of Daly mansion
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) Transmitted to Governor	03/22/2007	Designate warrior trail
HB 539	George G Groesbeck	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Appropriations	03/20/2007	Appropriate funds for Butte-Silver Bow cultural development
HB 574	Cynthia Hiner	(H) Hearing -- (H) Appropriations	03/16/2007; upon adj, Rm 102	Assist Deer Lodge in rebuilding Rialto theater
HB 667	Jesse O'Hara	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Appropriations	03/21/2007	Funding for Lewis and Clark tourism site endowments
HB 691	Dan Villa	(H) Tabled in Committee* -- (H) Education	03/08/2007	Create Montana Film Arts Program
HB 759	Gordon R Hendrick	(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading	03/23/2007	Revise fee system funding search & rescue
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	(S) Transmitted to Governor	03/20/2007	Establish Robert E. Ewing Jr. memorial highway
SB 76	Kim Gillan	(S) Transmitted to Governor	03/19/2007	Revise law on agency access to tax and revenue information
SB 78	Lane L Larson	(H) Referred to Committee -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	03/07/2007	Clarify stream access from bridges
SB 88	Bob Hawks	(S) Signed by President	03/21/2007	Extend indefinitely funding to heritage preservation and development account
SB 100	Larry Jent	(H) Hearing -- (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks	03/22/2007; 3 PM, Rm 152	Revise outfitter laws/ felony outfitting without license
SB 174	Jim Elliott	(S) Committee Report--Bill Passed as Amended -- (S) Taxation	03/22/2007	Revise laws on revenue administration
SB 233	Jim Elliott	(H) Hearing -- (H) Taxation	03/30/2007; 8 AM, Rm 152	Allow multiple counties to create museum districts
SB 284	Lynda Moss	(H) Hearing -- (H) Taxation	03/22/2007; 8 AM, Rm 152	Revise allocation of bed tax and taxes on rental cars
SB 299	Lynda Moss	(H) Hearing -- (H) State Administration	03/20/2007; 8 AM, Rm 455	Revise laws on historic preservation and cultural tourism
SB 301	Lynda Moss	(S) Transmitted to House	02/17/2007	Authorize bond issuance for historic preservation
SB 318	Jim Peterson	(H) Hearing -- (H) Judiciary	03/22/2007; 8 AM, Rm 137	Extend recreational use immunity to aircraft
SB 418	Dan Weinberg	(H) Hearing -- (H) Taxation	03/26/2007; 9 AM, Rm 152	Revise distribution of lodging facility use taxes
SB 431	Greg Lind	(H) Referred to Committee -- (H) Natural Resources	03/16/2007	Revise standards for hot springs
SB 525	Jim Elliott	(H) Hearing -- (H) Taxation	03/30/2007; 8 AM, Rm 152	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 152	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

Just a reminder that the 2007 Montana Governor’s Conference on Tourism and Recreation will be held in Helena at the Red Lion Inn, on April 2nd and 3rd.  For conference information and registration form please refer to:  http://www.travelmontana.state.mt.us/conference/  

Until next week…

 

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