Dear Colleagues,
Things are happening quickly this week in the Legislature with another transmittal deadline, this time for appropriations and revenue bills, on Tuesday.
If you need a Friday feel good, I urge you to check out this legislative hearing that occurred this week. House Bill 880 would make the huckleberry Montana's state fruit as proposed by 4th grade students from Vaughn Elementary. The bill passed its first floor vote this afternoon.
This week the House took action on House Bill 946, known as the Section E Companion Bill, which establishes studies for the Education Interim Budget Committee. In particular, it creates reporting requirements for the State Library for the Hot Spot lending program which is funded with one-time-only funding in House Bill 2. Additionally, the bill requires the interim committee to conduct a study of potential services the department of administration may be able to provide to the Montana arts council, the Montana historical society, and the Montana state library to create operating efficiencies. This bill passed the House Floor on 2nd reading today. We appreciate the support of the Montana Library Association and Chair Bedey to clarify requirements of the hot spot study.
House Bill 91 passed 2nd reading on the Senate Floor today and was referred to Senate Finance and Claims. Senator Small did a great job carrying the bill on the floor.
Senate Bill 60, remains in House State Administration. We were told to expect executive action next week. Rep. Sprunger, the sponsor of HB 91, asked to carry this bill on the House Floor.
Senate Bill 398, the bill that updates Montana's coordinate system, was heard in (H) Natural Resources on Monday afternoon and was passed unanimously the same day. It has yet to be scheduled for House Floor votes, it's last stop before heading to the Governor.
Finally, House Bill 2, the state budget bill, passed the House Floor with no changes to the State Library's budget. It was referred to Senate Finance and Claims but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
An updated summary of the bills we are actively following is below:
HB 2: General Appropriations Act
Passed by the House, referred to Senate Finance and Claims
State Library Position: Support
MLA Position: Support
MAGIP Position: N/A
HB 4: Appropriations by budget amendment
Passed 3rd reading in the House, will transmit to the Senate
State Library Position: Support
MLA Position: N/A
MAGIP Position: N/A
HB 13: State Employee Pay Plan and revising laws governing state employees
Passed by the Legislature, and headed to the Governor
State Library Position: Support
MLA Position: N/A
MAGIP Position: N/A
HB 91: Revise laws related to public library state aid
Passed 2nd reading in the Senate and referred to Senate Finance and Claims
State Library Position: Support
MLA Position: Support
MAGIP Position: N/A
SB 60: Establish enterprise fund for Montana spatial real time network
Heard in (H) State Administration, awaiting executive action
State Library Position: Support
MLA Position: N/A
MAGIP Position: Support
HB 343: Generally revise library geospatial and natural resource information laws
Passed by the Legislature, headed to the Governor
State Library Position: Support
MLA Position: N/A
MAGIP Position: Support
HB 946: Implement provisions of HB2 - Section E - education
Passed 2nd reading in the House
State Library Position: Informational
MLA Position: Support
MAGIP Position: N/A
HB 398: Establish a Montana coordinate system for property
Passed (H) Natural Resources, awaiting 2nd reading
State Library Position: Support
MLA Position: N/A
MAGIP Position: Support
Other bills impact libraries though the State Library is not involved:
HB 206: Generally revise mill levy election laws
Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Oppose
MAGIP Position: N/A
HB 234: Revise dissemination of obscene material to minors laws
Referred to (S) Education
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Oppose
MAGIP Position: N/A
HB 359: Prohibit minors from attending drag shows
Transmitted to the Senate
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Oppose
MAGIP Position: N/A
HB 484: Establish broadband advisory commission
Referred to (S) Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Support
MAGIP Position: N/A
HB 913: Revise school library collection selection and reconsideration processes
Passed (H) Education, awaiting 2nd reading
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Support
MAGIP Position: N/A
SB 125: Limit certain property tax levies to 5 years without reapproval
Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Oppose
MAGIP Position: N/A
SB 251: Sunset or reapprove existing voter-approved property tax levies
Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Oppose
MAGIP Position: N/A
SB 292: Revising the threshold for approval of a mill levy election
Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Oppose
MAGIP Position: N/A
SB 413: Prohibit sex education instruction below sixth grade in public schools
Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
State Library Position: N/A
MLA Position: Oppose
MAGIP Position: N/A
*Montana Library Association
** Montana Association of Geographic Information Professionals
Have a great week,
Jennie
Jennie Stapp (she/her), State Librarian
jstapp2@mt.gov
406.444.3116
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