The 64th Montana Legislature reached the midpoint of the session on Friday, Feb. 27. That was the 45th day of the 90-day session. It is also known as transmittal. This is when all general bills that have passed in each of the chambers are transmitted to the other chamber. Bills that have any revenue attached have a later transmittal date. Some bills of interest to the Flathead Valley that passed the House are HB 244, HB 322, HB 200 and HB 279.

HB 244 appropriates $1 million for a litigation fund protecting Montana products in interstate commerce. These funds may be expended only for actions that the attorney general determines will likely establish, benefit, improve, or protect the state’s access to domestic or international markets and may be used to cover the costs of those actions. It will be a benefit to the coal and timber interests in Montana.

HB 322 creates a special needs education savings account program. Qualified students may use funds from this program for tuition, fees, software, instructional materials, and curricular and extracurricular services.

HB 200 establishes drug screening and drug testing requirements for eligibility under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. The bill prohibits assistance in certain instances and allows a third party to receive a benefit on behalf of a child whose parent is ineligible because of the drug screening and testing requirements.

HB 279 clarifies laws related to when to legally tag game animals. This bill removes the vague word immediately from when to tag a game animal. It requires a hunter to tag an animal before the carcass is removed from the site of the kill or the hunter leaves the site of the kill.

These bills are on their way to the Senate. You can contact your senator with your input on these or other bills. All bills can be viewed and tracked through the legislature by going to www.leg.mt.gov. —Keith Regier, Kalispell Republican, HD4