March 6 - 10, 2023

What transmittal break?; MUS budget hearing; Mid-March Madness

And just like that, the 68th Legislature’s transmittal break was over, seemingly before it began. The House Appropriations Committee gaveled to order bright and early Thursday morning to begin hearings on HB 2, the General Appropriations Act. The Committee spent the day pouring over the monstrous and complicated budget of the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The Committee continued Friday with hearings on budgets for public safety, natural resource, agriculture, and transportation agencies, closing out the morning with a hearing on the MUS budget.

During HB 2 hearings in House Appropriations, the chair of each agency’s budget subcommittee provides an overview of the agency budget, describes the subcommittee’s work, answers questions about subcommittee discussions with its assigned agencies, and explains the subcommittee’s proposed changes. Agency staff deliver remarks and answer questions, and the public is given an opportunity to comment.

Section E Subcommittee Chair David Bedey (R-Hamilton), presented the MUS budget as proposed by the subcommittee. Week 7’s Week in Review, summarized key portions of the proposed budget as follows:

"[T]he Section E Appropriations Subcommittee recommended approval of the MUS budget, which includes nearly $450 million for the MUS education units, a substantial 14.6% increase for the Community Colleges, and an 8% increase for campus agencies. The subcommittee also supported substantial funding for the MUS Sprint Degree and Seamless System initiatives, $2M and $3M, respectively, and added $1.4 million for the MUS One-Two-Free program where students may enroll in their first two dual enrollment courses, or up to six credits, tuition-free."

OCHE fielded questions about the system initiatives in the proposed budget, and it was observed that a common theme among them was broadening opportunities and expediting pathways to degrees for Montana students. Chair Bedey complimented OCHE and the MUS on its ability to effectively use one-time-only “seed money” funding to test concepts and analyze results, providing solid evaluations to the legislature. The committee discussed the success of the MUS and Legislature’s Shared Policy Goals and Accountability Measures, which have been in place for several sessions, in advancing concepts and moving forward on policies both entities consider to be priorities.

The Appropriations Committee plans to take executive action on all sections of HB 2 during meetings on Monday, March 13 and Tuesday, March 14. Any amendments offered by committee members will be considered and acted on at that time. After the committee acts on the bill, its next stop is the House Floor for discussion and action (including amendments) by the full chamber.

Next week promises to be brimming with good old fashioned legislative fun, including Monday’s hearing on HB 517, proposing an amendment to the section of the Montana Constitution that vests the Board of Regents with the full authority to manage and control the Montana University System; Wednesday’s confirmation hearings for Regents Blossom and Southworth; and Wednesday’s hearings on HB 5 and HB 10, the Long-range building appropriation and Long-range information technology appropriation bills.

Where the Action is
HB 2 – General Appropriations Act

The House Appropriations Committee will act on all sections of HB 2.

Dates to watch:
March 13-14 Executive Action in House Appropriations

HB 5 – Long-range building appropriations

HB 5 has been referred to House Appropriations. A hearing is scheduled for March 15.

Dates to watch:
March 15 hearing in House Appropriations

HB 10 – Long-range information technology financings and appropriations

HB 10 has been referred to House Appropriations. The Section F Subcommittee adopted an amendment to appropriate $6,164,320 to UM through the MUS for CyberMontana cybersecurity initiative.

Dates to watch:
March 15 hearing In House Appropriations

HB 151 Generally revise building construction procurement laws

HB 151 would revise state building construction procurement laws. Requested by the State Division of Architecture and Engineering, the bill would streamline and improve the process for campus building projects.

Dates to watch:
March 15 hearing in Senate State Administration

HB 197  – Constitutional amendment on article X, section 9

HB 197 is a referendum to amend Art. X, Section 9 of the Montana Constitution, which vests the Board of Regents with the full authority to manage and control the MUS. The bill was referred to House Judiciary.

Dates to watch:
No hearing scheduled
April 3 deadline for bills proposing referenda to be transmitted to other chamber

HB 288 – Revises laws related to tuition waivers for American Indian students

HB 288 proposes to expand tuition waivers for American Indian students. The bill was tabled in the House Education Committee but was reconsidered and passed out of committee on February 24 with an amendment. As amended, HB 288 would remove the ¼ blood quantum requirement and expand the waiver to descendants of Indian tribes located within the boundaries of the state. HB 288 passed second reading in the House (62-37) and has been referred to House Appropriations for further consideration. 

Dates to watch:
March 15 hearing in House Appropriations

HB 482 – Provide access to education and supports for children aging out of foster care

HB 482 would establish a Montana foster youth higher education assistance program administered by the Board of Regents through OCHE for the purpose of “helping youth who have aged out of the foster care system meet their educational, vocational, and professional goals without accruing debt.” The bill does not include an appropriation to administer or fund the program. The House passed the bill on second reading (96-4) and it was rereferred to House Appropriations. 

Dates to watch:
March 14 hearing in House Appropriations

HB 517 – Constitutional amendment regarding Board of Regents

As proposed, the amendment would add language to Art. X, section IX of the Montana Constitution that would allow the legislature to require the board of regents to adopt policies that “protect the rights and associated civil liberties provided in the Montana constitution and those provided in the United States constitution.” It would also add that “the board of regents of higher education and units of the Montana university system are not exempt from laws of general applicability.”

Dates to watch:
March 13 hearing in House Judiciary

April 3 deadline for bills proposing referenda to be transmitted to other chamber

HB 749 Revise Montana digital academy laws

HB 749 revises laws for the Montana Digital Academy, which is housed at the University of Montana. The bill would expand instructional opportunities for part-time students and would authorize out-of-state instructors. The bill also revises the makeup of the Digital Academy’s governing board, creating nonvoting seats for a member of the House and Senate and a licensed teacher, and establish the legislative appointee as the presiding officer of the board. HB 749 also establishes a clearinghouse “to provide additional choice and flexibility to build local capacity for serving pupils with remote instruction courses, models, and materials.” The bill would appropriate $950,000 to OCHE for each year of the biennium for the Montana Digital Academy. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Dates to watch:
March 15 hearing in House Education

SR 32 – Confirm Governor’s appointee for Board of Regents of Higher Education

SR 32 submits to the Senate Governor Gianforte’s appointment of Jeff Southworth to the Board of Regents. Regent Southworth has served on the Board since 2022.

Dates to watch:
March 15 hearing in Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee

SR 51 – Confirm Governor’s appointee for Board of Regents of Higher Education

SR 51 submits to the Senate Governor Gianforte’s appointment of Norris Blossom to the Board of Regents. Regent Blossom has served as the student regent since last summer. 

Dates to watch:
March 15 hearing in Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee

 Time Served

Legislative Day: 47

Percent Complete: 52.22%