We completed our 35th legislative day on Saturday, February 12, 2011.  The transmittal deadline for non-revenue bills to pass between the House and the Senate is Thursday, February 24th.  Bills which have no revenues attached to them must be passed out of committee by Friday, February 18th so that they may heard on the floor of  the House in order to be voted on by the House and complete the process in the lower chamber.  Then the bills which pass 2nd and 3rd readings advance to the Senate for another thorough vetting.  The bills which successfully complete the process in the Senate are then transmitted to the Governor’s office to be signed into law. 

With the February 24th deadline for completing bill hearings and taking executive action on those bills just around the corner, the urgency to get bill drafts entered into the process and heard in committee is mounting.  And that urgency is placing pressure on the committees with already full agendas. In fact, as I am writing this article, five new bills have been sent to the State Administration Committee with more to follow.

House Bills currently scheduled in the State Administration Committee for this final week of hearings are: HB 404, repealing term limits for state senators and state representatives by referendum; HB 417, eliminate Columbus Day as a state holiday; HB 418, revise term limits for legislators; HB 431, eliminate state election day as a legal holiday; HB 444, create a state database website for taxpayer right to know; HB 447, recognize Ed McGivern as official Montana state shooter; HB 483, revise campaign finance regulation of churches and community groups; HB 484. clarify receipt of absentee ballots for subsequent elections is not permanent; HB 489, revise statutory rules for determining residency for voting and registration; HB 491, allow cooperative purchasing from nonprofit educational procurement co-ops; HB 513, require state to back transactions of state business with gold & silver coin; HB 521, referendum to revise judicial election laws; HB 528, revise laws regarding the cowboy hall of fame; and, HB 530, allow counties to prepare mail ballots before election day.

In addition to the house bills that the State Administration Committee will be hearing this week, we will be taking executive action on those currently waiting to be heard and on the following: HB 85, require employer contributions on working retirees in PERS, SRS & FURS; HB 116, provide actuarial funding for TRS; HB 122, provide benefit and funding changes to PERS; HB 134, provide benefit and funding changes to GWPORS; HB 135, provide benefit and funding changes to SRS; HB 197. constitutional amendment allowing legislature to change retirement plans; HB 205, require candidates for federal office to file affidavit for citizenship; HB 242, revise school and municipal elections with primary elections; HB 266, increase state contributions for certain employees in university optional retirement plan; HB 278, clarify and specify role of Home Guard; HB 301, allow public officials to close meeting for contract negotiations; HB 306, eliminate requirement for notary public to have journal; HB 310, clarify initiatives language; HB 328, include dispatchers in sheriffs’ retirement systems; HB 350, revise expiration of state contracts; HB 362, budget and general sessions of legislature; and, HB 386,  revise management of state owned or state-leased vehicles.

The State Administration Committee is just a reflection of the workload each committee is undergoing at the moment.  And each legislator is continuing to take action on bills which have come out of all the committees as a member of the Committee of the Whole on the floor of the House each day.  Floor sessions, beginning on February 21st, are expected to begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 5:00 p.m. or longer as we near the February 24th deadline for transmittal.

Remember, if you’re interested in being able to track any legislative bill, either House or Senate bill, you can do so by going to the Montana Legislative Website at:  http://www.leg.mt.gov.

I can be reached during the session by leaving a message for me at (406) 444-4800, or by e-mailing me at pathd13@blackfoot.net , or by visiting the legislative branch website at www.leg.mt.gov and clicking on the Contact a Legislator link. Instructions are given there on how to send electronic messages.  You also may mail your comments to me at Representative Pat Ingraham, Capitol Building, P. O. Box 200400, Helena, MT 59620-0400.