Democratic Rep. Ed Lieser says his second term in the state House of Representative has been productive as he works with familiar faces in the state Legislature.

“Being a sophomore has made a tremendous difference,” he said. “I feel like I’m actually working to get things done.”

Lieser, who sponsored 15 bills during the 2013 legislative session, said he has learned that he doesn’t have to have his name on a bill to get work done.

“It’s all about getting something accomplished — that’s what is most important,” he said.

Lieser is currently the primary sponsor of five bills. He serves on three committees — taxation, natural resources and Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Lieser said he intends to vote for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes water compact, the Healthy Montana Plan, which would expand Medicaid, and the Build Montana Plan, which proposes to improve the state’s infrastructure.

“I have studied these issues very carefully and I believe it is in the best interest of our town,” he said.

Lieser has been working with Republican Sen. Duane Ankney on efforts to reform septic system regulation through a bill in the Senate. The bill would require disclosure of a septic system at the time of a buy-sell agreement in a real estate transaction, and a septic tank would have to be pumped within three years of transfer of the property. The bill has been tabled in committee.

“I thought by combining our efforts into one bill that was sponsored by the majority party it would have a better chance for success,” Lieser said.

A 2012 study by the Whitefish Lake Institute revealed septic contamination in Whitefish Lake, likely the result of failing septic tanks. Lieser sponsored a similar bill in 2013 in response to those findings.

Lieser is sponsoring a House joint resolution opposing efforts for the state to take over federal lands. The bill, which is set for a hearing Wednesday before the House natural resources committee, states that the Legislature “opposes any effort to claim, takeover, litigate for, or sell off federal lands” within the state.

There has been a push by some in the Legislature to transfer management of most federal lands to the state. Proponents say the state management of the some 25 million acres in Montana would allow for more logging and other activity that helps the economy.

Lieser, a retired forester, has spoken in opposition of transferring federal land saying the state does not have the resources to properly manage those lands. He has said that the state should instead work with federal agencies to improve management of the land.

Lieser is also sponsoring a bill that would allow the parents of deceased veterans to stay in one of Montana’s two veterans homes if there are no veterans on the waiting list.

“As a veteran, I recognize that parents of deceased veterans have been recognized as Gold Star Parents since the Civil War,” Lieser said. “I believe their sacrifice deserves this opportunity.”

In addition, Lieser is working on a suicide prevention bill that would require primary care providers to obtain suicide awareness training every six years.

“Unfortunately, Montana is in the top five states in the U.S. for suicide, and has been for a long time,” Lieser said. “I have learned that 45 percent of people see their primary care provider prior to committing suicide.”

He has also sponsored a bill to revise asbestos laws to reduce the amount of time it takes to get an asbestos removal permit and establish an advisory council to coordinate the state and federal requirements for asbestos removal. Lieser said the state Department of Environmental Quality requested he pursue the bill because regulations have not been review in some time.

As a member of the house taxation committee, Lieser was asked to sponsor a bill that would help the state Department of Revenue calculate inflation adjustments earlier in the year to facilitate timely preparation of tax forms.

He is also working on a bill that would revise and streamline property tax assistance programs. There are three programs, he noted, that are about to expire that give qualifying individuals property assistance.

“This bill definitely affects people in Whitefish and many other communities around the state,” he said.

Lieser also noted his work on the taxation committees work.

“The taxation committee has heard a number of bills that would reduce income taxes, but at this point the legislature has not received a reliable estimate of how much revenue the state can expect over the next biennium, so I think action on these bills should be delayed,” he said.