Legislative Report
May 2, 2019
66th Legislature wrap up
The 66th Montana Legislature concluded on Thursday of last week. Over the past four months the legislature passed 375 bills. Among those bills was a state budget of ten billion dollars over the next two years. Other major bills include resuming Medicaid Expansion, with additional restrictions, for another 6 years. Another provided $80 million for infrastructure bonding projects across the state. It passed these bills while still cutting 200 vacant government positions.
The House and Senate also passed some very innovative legislation. We created a more responsible and consistent way to fund infrastructure projects by creating debt limits with the Infrastructure Development and Economic Accountability (IDEA) Act. We also worked to make vocational education programs a priority in high school and even in the Montana University System by passing multiple career and technical education bills.
Republicans also worked hard to address two of Montana’s biggest concerns we heard heading into the session: increasing access to public lands and reducing costs for prescription drugs and insurance premiums. It did so by passing the Public Access to Land (PAL) Act which incentivizes agreements for land easements. We also passed legislation that protects insurance policy holders from the effects of larger claims and others that will force pharmacy benefit managers, prescription drug middle men, to be more transparent.
The legislature also addressed student and child sexual assault that has been a closely watched issue for both the district and around the entire state. We eliminated the criminal and increased the civil statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. We also made it clear that K-12 students cannot give sexual consent to school employees.
Many of the 375 bills are still on the governor’s desk waiting for a signature; however, it appears most will get signed and the 66th Legislature will have been an overall success for the people of Montana. Thank you for writing and voicing your concerns throughout the session, they were all heard and appreciated. I look forward to preparing for next session so please continue to contact me with your ideas for improving our great state.
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