The legislature is one-third done with their business. Many bills have been tabled in committee with many good ones advancing through the process. Some you may want to watch at the www.leg.mt.gov site include:

Senate Bill 39, introduced by Sen. Cary Smith, R-Billings, will revise patent and copyright trolling laws. There are companies set up whose only function is to write letters to businesses complaining of a copyright violation. Rather than hire a lawyer to fight the instance, small-business owners are sometimes forced to pay the $5,000 or more to get these “trolls” off their backs. This will give some teeth to the practice which is illegal.

Senate Bill 135, introduced by Tom Facey, D-Missoula, would extend overtime exemption to certain air carrier employees. Many people working for air carriers wish to opt for a shift swap with another employee so they can take care of family or perhaps go on extended vacation. This bill will allow employees to notify the employer and be allowed to change shifts without creating an overtime burden for the carrier.

Senate Bill 142, introduced by Sen. Cary Smith, R-Billings, would allow terminally ill patients to make the choice to use health care options which haven’t been vetted or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. People should never give up hope in that situation and will be their right to choose for themselves.

House Bill 81, introduced by Ryan Lynch, D-Butte, would provide for a barbering license without the need to know how to dye, perm, straighten and bleach your hair. Some barbers just want to cut hair, similar to what’s happening in other states. They could be licensed with less practice hours because of this change in law.

Senate Bill 163, introduced by Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, would create a special revenue account for business training. Employers are encouraged to use training funds for added employment in the state. This will put any leftover funds into another account and not back into the general fund, where it could ultimately be spent on just about anything. Jobs created through this account are what we all work on during session.

Several Flathead residents have shown up to testify on bills, so I hope to see and visit with more of you as the sausage continues in the grinding phase. Keep in touch via e-mail at sen.dee.brown@mt.gov or leave a message at 406-444-4800. I will be discussing bills I’m carrying in the next letter home.

Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, represents Senate District 2.