Legislative Action Alert: March 12th, 2021
House Bill 599: Generally revise open cut laws
Status: Hearing: 03/15/2021; 3:00 PM, Rm 303 (S) Nat Res
Position: Oppose
HB 599 is a truly radical fundamental re-write of gravel pit laws in a way that would completely cut the public out of the permitting process in nearly every instance. The bill, introduced at the 11th hour, is loaded with flaws, eliminates dozens of requirements for gravel pit operators, and completely excludes notification and involvement of neighboring landowners in most gravel pit permitting processes.
URGENT ACTION!
- Sign up to testify by 12pm on 3/14 HERE.
- Follow the steps below to contact the Senate Natural Resources committee HERE.
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
- Select (S) Natural Resources
- Select Bill Type (HB) and Bill Number 599
- Select Against
- Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.
- Contact the Senate Natural Resources Committee directly!
Welborn, Jeffrey (R) ‑ Chair, Jeff.welborn@mtleg.gov, (406) 949-6070
Small, Jason (R) ‑ Vice Chair, j2thedsmall@gmail.com, (406) 690-0923
Flowers, Pat (D) ‑ Vice Chair, pat.flowers@mtleg.gov, (406) 580-0035
Ankney, Duane (R), goodwind1.duane@gmail.com, (406) 740-0629
Brown, Bob (R), Bob.Brown@mtleg.gov, (406) 242-0141
Cohenour, Jill (D), Jill.Cohenour@mtleg.gov, (406) 227-1144
Gillespie, Bruce (R), Bruce.Gillespie@mtleg.gov, (406) 949-4453
Hoven, Brian (R), Brian.Hoven@mtleg.gov, (406) 761-8533
Jacobson, Tom (D), Tom.Jacobson@mtleg.gov, (406) 868-9814
Lang, Mike (R), mike.lang@mtleg.gov, (406) 654-7357
Lynch, Ryan (D), Ryan.Lynch@mtleg.gov, (406) 498-6625
Pomnichowski, JP (D), jp.pomnichowski@mtleg.gov, (406) 587-7846
Secretary: Lauren de Paepe, Rm 320, (406) 444‑4618
Staff: Jason Mohr, Rm 171D, (406) 444‑1640
SB 260: Generally revise laws related to property interests and transfer of businesses
Status: Hearing 03/16/2021; 08:30 AM, Rm 172
Montana Audubon Position: Oppose
SB 260 would greatly expand on the provision in the Montana Constitution that already requires a government body to pay a property owner if an action takes away the entire value of that person’s property. SB 260 drastically changes that. SB 260 would require the state to pay whenever a state action diminishes the value of the property by as little as 25% regardless of the need for the regulation to protect public health, safety, and welfare.
A similar bill in 2013 was projected to cost Montana $600 million over six years and it had protections for public health, safety, and welfare! Governments must be able to protect all people, including those who live downwind or downstream from a project, or are concerned about their property values or well-being.
SB 260 defines property so broadly that it includes far more than just land. It also includes stocks, bonds, business brands, credit, intellectual property, perceived financial stability of a company, property fixtures, personal property or appurtenances, water rights, permits, domestic animals, all obligations, labor, business licenses, all types of property associated with business licenses, and a host of other types of property.
URGENT ACTION!
- Sign up to testify by 12pm on 3/15 HERE.
- Follow the steps below to contact the House Business and Labor committee HERE.
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
- Select (H) Business and Labor
- Select Bill Type (SB) and Bill Number 260
- Select Against
- Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.
- Contact the House Business and Labor Committee directly!
Noland, Mark (R) ‑ Chair, marknolandhd10@gmail.com, (406) 253-8982
Buttrey, Ed (R) ‑ Vice Chair, ed.buttrey@mtleg.gov, (406) 452-6460
Sullivan, Katie (D) ‑ Vice Chair, katie.sullivan@mtleg.gov, (406) 616-3914
Abbott, Kim (D), kim.abbott@mtleg.gov, (406) 439-8721
Anderson, Fred (R), unavailable email, (406) 761-4042
Curdy, Willis (D), Willis.Curdy@mtleg.gov, (406) 728-0981
Duram, Neil (R), Neil.Duram@mtleg.gov, (406) 471-2356
Fitzgerald, Ross (R), ross.fitzgerald@mtleg.gov, (406) 467-2032
Funk, Moffie (D), Moffie.Funk@mtleg.gov, (406) 461-6785
Galloway, Steven (R), galloway4mt@gmail.com, (406) 727-4963
Gist, Steve (R), steve.gist@mtleg.gov, (406) 231-4050
Gunderson, Steve (R), steve.gunderson@mtleg.gov, (406) 334-4370
Harvey, Derek (D), derek.harvey@mtleg.gov, (406) 490-5472
Loge, Denley (R), Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, (406) 649-2368
Marshall, Ron (R), ronmarshallmt87@gmail.com, (406) 579-9498
Novak, Sara (D), novak4hd77@gmail.com, (406) 691-0069
Olsen, Andrea (D), Andrea.Olsen@MTLeg.gov, (406) 543-2666
Seekins‑Crowe, Kerri (R), Kerri4MT@gmail.com, (406) 208-6587
Whiteman Pena, Rynalea (D), pena_rynalea@yahoo.com, (406) 477-8717
Zolnikov, Katie (R), Katie.Zolnikov@mtleg.gov,(406) 690-1684
Clerk: Jordee Bomgardner, Rm 468, (406) 444‑1513
Staff: Jameson Walker, Rm 125, 444‑3722
SB 257: Prohibit local governments from imposing carbon penalties, fees, or taxes
Status: Waiting on House Taxation executive action
Montana Audubon Position: Oppose
SB 257 eliminates local governments (i.e. cities, towns, and counties) from enacting or adopting any ordinance or regulation that includes any fees, taxation, or penalties for the use of fossil fuel based energy consumption (carbon). Several cities and towns in Montana have adopted 100% clean energy goals on behalf of their citizens, and are considering “green tariffs” as a way to advance the clean energy goals in their communities. This bill would prohibit them from addressing climate change at a local level, and in a way that is responsive to their constituents.
Action!
- Follow the steps below to contact the House Taxation committee HERE.
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
- Select (H) Taxation
- Select Bill Type (SB) and Bill Number 257
- Select Against
- Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.
- Contact the House Taxation Committee directly!
Beard, Becky (R) ‑ Chair – (406) 492-6590, becky4hd80@blackfoot.net
Welch, Tom (R) ‑ Vice Chair – (406) 683-4811, tom.welch@mtleg.gov
Fern, Dave (D) ‑ Vice Chair – (406) 212-0674, fern@montanasky.net
Abbott, Kim (D), kim.abbott@mtleg.gov, (406) 439-8721
Brewster, Larry (R) – (406) 670-0929, Larry.Brewster@mtleg.gov
Buckley, Alice (D) – (406) 404-0891, aliceformontana@gmail.com
Dunwell, Mary Ann (D) – (406) 461-5358, maryann.dunwell@mtleg.gov
Fielder, Paul (R) – (406) 210-5943, paulfielder@blackfoot.net
Hinkle, Caleb (R) – (406) 585-0722, jedediah.hinkle@mtleg.gov
Kassmier, Joshua (R) – (406) 781-5386, JKASSMIER@LIVE.COM
Kerns, Scot (R) – (406) 351-0154,
Knudsen, Rhonda (R) – (406) 489-5253, rhonda.knudsen@mtleg.gov
Malone, Marty (R) – (406) 223-1302, dogrockranch@gmail.com
Marler, Marilyn (D) – (406) 544-7189, marilyn.marler@mtleg.gov
Mitchell, Braxton (R) – (406) 314-9474, BraxtonMMitchell@gmail.com
Sheldon‑Galloway, Lola (R) – (406) 750-4721, lola.sheldon-galloway@mtleg.gov
Thane, Mark (D) – (406) 552-3957, thanehd99@gmail.com
Trebas, Jeremy (R) – (406) 899-5445, trebasformthouse@gmail.com
Clerk: Kathy Sangray, Rm 451, 406-444‑4467
Staff: Megan Moore, Rm 111A, 406- 444‑4496
SB 98: Revising laws related to grizzly bear take in defense of persons and livestock
Status: Waiting on House Agriculture executive action
Montana Audubon Position: Oppose
This bill would redefine when a grizzly bear can be killed to include threatening livestock. The language would replace language approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to assure adequate mechanisms to maintain grizzly bears post delisting from the endangered species list, and ensure that grizzlies are never delisted in Montana.
This bill would allow anyone to kill any grizzly bear at any time if livestock were in the area, resulting in the unregulated killing of grizzly bears in Montana. If this bill is passed, there would be no regulatory mechanism for FWP to monitor and limit grizzly mortality, and thus the Fish and Wildlife Service could not delist grizzly bears in Montana. Contact members of the Senate Agricultural, Livestock and Irrigation Committee and tell them to vote NO on SB 98
Action!
- Follow the steps below to contact the House Agriculture committee HERE.
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
- Select (H) Agriculture
- Select Bill Type (SB) and Bill Number 98
- Select Against
- Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.
- Contact the House Agriculture Committee directly!
Kassmier, Joshua (R) ‑ Chair, JKASSMIER@LIVE.COM, (406) 781-5386
Dooling, Julie (R) ‑ Vice Chair, julie.dooling@mtleg.gov, (406) 471-4125
Olsen, Andrea (D) ‑ Vice Chair, Andrea.Olsen@MTLeg.gov, (406) 543-2666
Anderson, Fred (R), unavailable email, (406) 761-4042
Beard, Becky (R), becky4hd80@blackfoot.net, (406) 492-6590
Binkley, Michele (R), michele@binkleyformontana.com, (406) 375-0291
Curdy, Willis (D), Willis.Curdy@mtleg.gov, (406) 728-0981
Funk, Moffie (D), Moffie.Funk@mtleg.gov, (406) 461-6785
Knudsen, Casey (R), unavailable email, (406) 390-0274
Ler, Brandon (R), lerforrichland@gmail.com, (406) 480-5687
Malone, Marty (R), dogrockranch@gmail.com, (406) 223-1302
Marshall, Ron (R), ronmarshallmt87@gmail.com, (406) 579-9498
McKamey, Wendy (R), unavailable email, (406) 866-3300
Smith, Frank (D), clairena@hughes.net, (495) 942-0615
Sullivan, Katie (D), katie.sullivan@mtleg.gov, (406) 616-3914
Walsh, Kenneth (R), kenneth.walsh@mtleg.gov, (406) 684-5624
Whiteman Pena, Rynalea (D), pena_rynalea@yahoo.com, (406) 477-8717
Clerk: Jacquelynn Bomgardner, Rm 468, (406) 444‑1596
Staff: Cori Hach, Rm 129, (406) 444‑6857
SB 337: Revising laws related to grizzly bear relocation
Status: Waiting House Fish Wildlife and Parks Executive committee action
Montana Audubon Position: Oppose
This bill states that bears found outside the established recovery zones cannot be translocated by the state, and therefore would be killed. It would raise major concerns with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and preclude every delisting grizzly bear because of issues with adequate management protocols to ensure grizzly mortality isn’t too high.
Action!
- Follow the steps below to contact the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks committee HERE.
- Fill out the form provided.
- Select Committees (You may have to scroll down to find this)
- Select (H) Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Select Bill Type (SB) and Bill Number 337
- Select Against
- Provide your message, making sure to personalize with your name, hometown and one sentence about your background and concern.
- Contact the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee directly!
Fitzgerald, Ross (R) ‑ Chair, ross.fitzgerald@mtleg.gov, (406) 467-2032
Duram, Neil (R) ‑ Vice Chair, Neil.Duram@mtleg.gov, (406) 471-2356
Farris‑Olsen, Robert (D) ‑ Vice Chair, robformontana@gmail.com, (406) 794-4780
Berglee, Seth (R), Seth.Berglee@mtleg.gov, (406) 690-9329
Fielder, Paul (R), paulfielder@blackfoot.net, (406) 210-5943
France, Tom (D), tom.france@mtleg.gov, (406) 396-5085
Hinkle, Jedediah (R), jedediah.hinkle@mtleg.gov, (406) 585-0722
Knudsen, Rhonda (R), rhonda.knudsen@mtleg.gov, (406) 489-5253
Loge, Denley (R), Denleylogehd14@gmail.com, (406) 649-2368
Marler, Marilyn (D), marilyn.marler@mtleg.gov, (406) 544-7189
Mitchell, Braxton (R), BraxtonMMitchell@gmail.com, (406) 314-9474
Novak, Sara (D), novak4hd77@gmail.com, (406) 691-0069
Phalen, Bob (R), Bob.Phalen@mtleg.gov, (406) 939-1187
Putnam, Brian (R), brian.putnam@mtleg.gov, (406) 233-9463
Reksten, Linda (R), reksten4mthouse@gmail.com, (406) 471-8359
Running Wolf, Tyson (D), trwolves@gmail.com, (406) 845-2115
Seekins‑Crowe, Kerri (R), Kerri4MT@gmail.com, (406) 208-6587
Weatherwax, Marvin (D), repmarvinwwaxjr@gmail.com, (406) 338-7741
Clerk: Joanne Kauzlarich, Rm 451,(406) 444‑2554
Staff: Hope Stockwell, Rm 171C, (406) 444‑9280