April 7-11, 2025

All about the Benjamins; Plot twists; Printed copies of HB 2 set to test sturdiness of antique Senate desks; Remaining policy bills wait turn at mic; Regents one step away; Place your bets

As the plug is pulled on the 69th Legislature’s Week 13, some proposals involving appropriations or spending that had successfully navigated the process until now find themselves circling the drain in the House Appropriations or Senate Finance and Claims Committees. With the behemoth General Appropriations Act marching now to the floor of the Senate, other bills that would decrease revenue or require expenditures can be unceremoniously whacked in those two powerful committees. And policy bills with no money involved that may have passed easily in one chamber are meeting their demise in the other chamber for reasons seemingly known only to the coffee-stained furniture.

The Legislative Fiscal Division maintains an ongoing General Fund Outlook, accounting for projected revenues, bills still in process that increase or decrease revenue, HB 2 expenditures, statutory appropriations, and bills in process that appropriate funds outside of HB 2. Released on April 10, the latest outlook anticipating revenues and expenditures indicates a General Fund ending fund balance in FY 2025 of $287M, but with negative fund balances in succeeding fiscal years. The outlook through 2029 shows a structural balance of negative $500M. And although the current legislative budget exceeds the Governor’s proposed budget by just 1%, uncertainty over federal actions and federal funding cuts add to the unease some lawmakers are expressing about state spending.

HBs 2, 5, & 10

The good news for the MUS is that the system's budget is largely unchanged as it left the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on Friday morning. Committee members proposed three amendments to Section E of HB 2, two of which passed.

  • Senator Jonathan Windy Boy (D-Box Elder) requested an infusion of $200,000 in one-time-only funds for Montana State University-Northern to develop a meat processing program. That amendment passed unanimously.
  • Senator John Fuller (R-Kalispell) proposed an amendment that would have removed the biennial $5M appropriation from OPI’s budget for revised mathematics content standards. This amendment failed on a tie vote but may be considered again on the Senate floor.
  • Senator Kenneth Bogner (R-Miles City) proposed an amendment, with strong support from Senator Carl Glimm (R-Kila), to change the Community College Assistance program funding, effected by a change in the funding formula. This amendment passed by a thin margin. After a recess, an attempt was made to reconsider this action, but a motion was not entertained.

HB 2 as amended passed out of Senate Finance and Claims on a 13-9 vote. It will be debated on the Senate floor next week at which time members may offer additional amendments.

The status of House Bills 5 and 10 have not changed—having been heard and awaiting executive action in Senate Finance and Claims. The Committee plans to act on them next week.

But Wait, there's More  

By the end of Legislative Day 73 (the deadline for transmitting amendments to General bills), in all-day sessions the House will have debated on 2nd Reading over 50 bills and Senate amendments and the Senate will have gnawed through over 80. Between the two chambers, hundreds of bills will have seen a 3rd Reading vote. The Senate is scheduled to gavel in on Saturday to finish the week's business.

Many of the policy bills OCHE is still tracking are awaiting hearings and 2nd Reading debate.

HB 284 - Establish an interim committee to investigate civil rights violations and censorship within the MUS
Status: Bill concurred in Senate Judiciary; not yet scheduled for 2nd Reading.

HB 400 – Enact the “Free to Speak Act”
Status: After a lengthy and emotional debate on the Senate floor Thursday, the chamber voted in favor of the measure 28-22 with a few Republicans joining the Democrats in voting no. HB 400 cleared the Senate Friday afternoon, 28-20.

HB 499 – Extend the grow your own grant program
Status: Scheduled for hearing in Senate Education and Cultural Resources on April 17.

HB 553 – Generally revise military higher education act
Status: Senate Education and Cultural Resources concurred in HB 553 on Tuesday. It has not yet been scheduled for 2nd Reading.

HB 718 – Generally revise laws relating to incarceration
Rep. Kerri-Seekins Crowe (R-Billings) proposes to establish an office of reentry services in the Department of Labor and Industry. Its purpose is to create collaboration among entities to expand existing post-incarceration programs and create new programs for job training, workforce placement, and access to general or secondary education programs, among other efforts. OCHE is among the entities listed as a stakeholder an would participate in the DLI office’s programming activities.
Status: Senate Finance and Claims unanimously concurred in the bill on Friday. It has not yet been scheduled for 2nd Reading.

HB 823 – Revise laws relating to the state plan committee
HB 823 would amend existing law governing the Perkins State Plan Committee, its membership, and the requirements of OCHE, DLI, and the State Workforce Innovation Board.
Status: The bill is seeing minimal opposition, easily passing its 3rd Reading vote on Friday.

SB 118 – Generally revise student data laws to enhance privacy
SB 118 would have established a student's "right to be forgotten" and impacted the operations of OPI’s K-12 student data system and the Education and Workforce Data Governing Board.
Status: The House Appropriations Committee tabled the bill on Thursday.

SB 271 - Remove prohibition on certain compensation for collegiate student-athlete's name/image/likeness
Status: On Thursday the House concurred in the bill 97-2. It has not yet been scheduled for 3rd Reading.

SB 482 – Revise contract laws relating to student athletes
Status: On Thursday the House concurred in the bill 99-1. It has not yet been scheduled for 3rd Reading.

Regents Confirmations 

Early in the week, Senate Resolutions 69, 70, and 71—confirming Regents Folkvord, Hoyer, and Mortenson—returned from Enrolling and await the signature of the Senate President.

Time Served

'Tis the season of sine die betting pools and rumors of early adjournment dates. Could having to return to Helena with only sad leftover ham after a festive Easter break at home push members to call it?

Legislative Day: 73
Percent Complete: 81.11%