Week 11: Legislative Session Update
We hope you all had a restful Transmittal Break! Thank you for the sweet notes of thanks for our team.
The legislative session isn’t slowing down as we start the second half. This week House Bill 2 (aka “The Budget”) moves from budget subcommittees to the House Appropriations Committee. The House Appropriations Committee will host hearings over multiple days to discuss the many different parts, called “Sections”. During the hearing for each section, the Committee will hear from subcommittee chairs, state agencies, and the public!
The entire budget is important, but we’re really concerned about the following cuts:
Summer Food Assistance for Children: Called Sunbucks, the program provides federal dollars to low-income families to help subsidize summer meals when school lunch isn’t available. As it stands, the program has been cut in its entirety from the budget. This cut will impact over 76,000 Montana kiddos access to food in the summer!
Behavioral Health Initiatives: The Governor’s budget proposed funding ten recommendations from the bi-partisan Behavioral Health Commission that would support community mental health and developmental disability services. The subcommittee cut $20 million from the $100 million budget and reduced funding for Community Behavioral Health Clinics to one-time only.
Out-of-State Private Prison Contracts: This has been difficult to follow, but it appears that funding has been included to send currently incarcerated Montanans to private prisons out-of-state. This is a harmful practice that removes people from their families and communities.
We’re urging all of our members to contact the House Appropriations Committee this week! Take action through our online form or by contacting the House Appropriations Committee by calling the Capitol Switchboard or through the online Participation Form – find more info below!
You can learn more about the budget and its impact on a variety of issues from our friends at Montana Budget & Policy Center. We loved this blog post and their House Bill 2 Executive Action Report Card.
In Solidarity,
Julia Maxon
Program Director
Take Action
It's going to take all of us to create a Montana where there is justice, safety, and dignity for all. This means that we need YOU to take contact your legislator this legislative session.
Call the capitol switchboard at 406-444-4800
The switchboard is open 7 AM to 5:30 PM M-F
State your name, where you're located, and ask to leave a message Supporting / Opposing the bill you want to leave comment on
There's a new system for leaving message to legislators this year that does require you to create an account. You'll need to go to legmt.gov/participate
Be sure to enter in your email address and press verify to get a confirmation code. Note: you will not be able to proceed forward in the form if you do not complete this first step.
To testify virtually, go to legmt.gov/participate. Like submitting a public comment, you will need to create an account first and verify your email.
You will be able to sign up to testify two hours before the hearing.
In your testimony, be sure to say, "Chair and members of the committee, my name is [insert full name and spell out your last name] and I live in [insert place in MT]. I'm here to SUPPORT / OPPOSE [HB/SB #] for [insert your reason]. Close by saying: [Thank you for your time and please vote YES/ NO on this bill.]
Priority Bills
Key: ✅ Support ❌ Oppose 🔵 Tracking
Health Care
✅ House Bill 399, carried by Rep. Jonathan Karlen, would revise prior authorization laws for health insurance prescription drug coverage by prohibiting insurers from requiring prior authorization in several specific scenarios. These changes aim to reduce barriers to accessing necessary prescription medications and provide more transparency in the insurance approval process. Nobody should be denied coverage of life-saving medication, especially those that have been regularly prescribed for months, if not, years. This bill would require insurance companies to cover these medications that keep folks alive and healthy. House Bill 399 will be heard in the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee on Friday, March 21st at 8 AM. Please testify and contact your Senators to let them know that you SUPPORT HB 399.
LGBTQ+ Rights
If you haven't already, please say thanks to legislators who voted for Trans Equality and voted against HB 675, aka the anti-drag bill and HB 754, a bill that would've allowed Child and Family Services to remove children from parents who support their child receiving gender affirming care.
Also, please sign the letter urging Governor Gianforte to veto HB 121, (trans bathroom ban bill) today. We've gathered over 650 signatures so far - please help us keep the momentum going!
❌Senate Bill 218, carried by Sen. John Fuller, would further criminalize health care providers by allowing someone to sue a provider for treatment of gender dysphoria dating back to 25 years ago. This could have some dire impacts on our health care system in Montana as some medical providers may choose to not practice in Montana under this threat. Senate Bill 218 will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee this Friday, March 21st at 8 AM. Please testify and contact your Representative to let them know that you OPPOSE SB 218. If you or someone you know has a story that you'd be interested in sharing with this committee, please reach out to Julia at julia@catalystmt.org.
If you are a medical provider, staff, or administrator, or are someone who routinely seeks medical care, please add this name to your letter voicing opposition to this harmful policy-- thank you!
❌Senate Bill 164, carried by Sen. John Fuller, would criminalize parents, caregivers, and medical providers who support children in accessing gender-affirming health care. Senate Bill 164 will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee this Friday, March 21st at 8 AM. Please testify and contact your Representatives and let them know that you OPPOSE SB 164. If you or someone you know has a story that you'd be interested in sharing with this committee, please reach out to Julia at julia@catalystmt.org.
✅ House Bill 798, carried by Rep. Zooey Zephyr, is a proposed constitutional amendment to repeal the part of the MCA, (Montana Code Annotated), that bans same-sex marriage. House Bill 798 will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee this Thursday, March 20th at 8 AM. Please testify and contact your Representatives and let them know that you SUPPORT HB 798. If you or someone you know has a story that you'd be interested in sharing with this committee, please reach out to Julia at julia@catalystmt.org.
Criminal Legal
❌House Bill 173, carried by Rep. Neil Duram, would modify the definition of "victim" in the Montana Youth Court Act by expanding the definition to potentially include corporations or other entities, paving the way for youth to be ordered to pay restitution to businesses. Because youth don’t have incomes, restitution often falls to their families, who often can’t afford this additional burden and are forced to choose between paying this debt and basic necessities, further trapping these families in cycles of debt and poverty. House Bill 173 will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 19th at 8 AM. Call your Senator and the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask them to OPPOSE HB 173.
Pro-Democracy & Voting Rights
❌Senate Bill 385, carried by Sen. Tom McGillvray, would create a brand new court, costing Montana taxpayers an estimated $1.4 million every year, to hear cases related to the constitutionality of state actions. Currently, these cases are heard by District courts and then appealed to the MT Supreme Court, both of which have justices elected by Montana voters. This new court would have judges appointed by the Governor, completely bypassing the people of Montana. This bill is an attempt to further politicize our state courts by creating an unnecessary, expensive alternative court appointed by the Governor to review questions about constitutionality of actions of the State. Our current District and MT Supreme Courts are already doing that work effectively and are accountable to the people through elections. Senate Bill 385 will be heard in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee today, March 18th at 10 AM. Call your Senator and the Senate Finance and Claims Committee and ask them to OPPOSE SB 385 and reject unnecessary spending.
❌House Bill 506, carried by Rep. Brad Barker, would create a partisan nominating process for possible MT Supreme Court justice candidates to then be chosen from and appointed by the Governor, completely bypassing the people of Montana who currently have the right to vote for MT Supreme Court justices. Our system is built on checks and balances, and designed to make sure no one branch of government has too much power over the others. This bill would limit our system of checks and balances by giving the Governor the power to unilaterally appoint justices. House Bill 506 will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee Thursday, March 20th at 8 AM. Call your Representative and the House Judiciary Committee and ask them to OPPOSE HB 506.
✅ House Bill 488, carried by Rep. Julie Darling, would require the Secretary of State to implement a secure system for disabled voters to electronically return their ballots when voting. HB 488 would expand voting access for disabled community members! House Bill 488 will be heard in the Senate State Admin Committee March 28th at 3 PM. Call your Senator and the Senate State Admin Committee and ask them to SUPPORT HB 488.
Housing Rights and Cost of Living
✅ House Bill 154, carried by Rep. Jonathan Karlen, would establish a tax credit that benefits any household with an income less than $150,000. This benefit applies to both homeowners as well as renters, especially as property taxes are passed through to renters. House Bill 154 will be heard in the Senate Tax Committee tomorrow, March 19th at 9 AM. Please contact your Senator and the Senate Tax Committee asking them to SUPPORT HB 154.
✅ House Bill 274, carried by Rep.Ed Stafman, would make medicaid funds available to provide shelter to people recovering from an ailment who would otherwise have to recover on the street. It would also provide resources to help folks recover beyond just shelter. No one should have to go through medical recovery without shelter and this bill provides the resources to provide basic services to those who need it. House Bill 274 will be heard in the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Safety Committee March 24th at 3 PM. Please contact your Senators and the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Safety Committee asking them to SUPPORT HB 274.
Economic Justice
✅ House Bill 551, carried by Rep.Melissa Romano, would establish a state program to eliminate reduced-price co-payments for school lunch and breakfast in Montana, recognizing that requiring families to pay even a small amount for meals can create barriers to participation. The legislation aims to support children's nutritional needs and educational potential by making school meals more accessible. We need to support children and families that face barriers to pay for school lunch and breakfast. No child should go hungry while at school. House Bill 551 will be heard in the House Education Committee was heard yesterday, March 17th. Please contact your Representatives and the House Education Committee asking them to SUPPORT HB 551.
