[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6100387,"mediaKeyId","2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e","parentId",2813617,"title","Votes at a glance: key Appropriations Committee executive actions and outcomes","audioSeconds",238,"startMs",2953000,"endMs",3191000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e&start=2953&end=3191","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e/thumbnail_2953000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100387/Montana/Votes-at-a-glance-key-Appropriations-Committee-executive-actions-and-outcomes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100387-bcaf6830504f2580b23796c79496c874/orig.mp4?Expires=1770644559&Signature=XJGU9DQrVp~1eLC6ODhafIPzZY~Z9CxpPtZGnxlu-Wtv2uD1RsRXH3RquqHuHcxPY6p1ANGOCzTgNmov9Xd4thxBzx52lhKQN-sRZSsuEqmsbHin4G5tnwnO2t7CP86p7pfesq6Fu7fjfChb5MbtvLceiDIJsh29qu8bSNTEZ9e-0FhQyZoGzLV-iwB2q46SmJXI3sfzyAs3Fg3g~tCxxc1MZyLdewBjxSnrUHnyllhuxOK5IUf6YKgyS0VE235~W8CcjS5mAKOsSJQFs0BzdIfCepLTIYf-0wSK7kVrEHB2TRFdiG6gDV2XuKUhvUIHFlsDLzq83kvxpUUpzNYWqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","article","The House Appropriations Committee recorded multiple formal actions during the session excerpt provided. Below are the committee's recorded motions, outcomes and vote tallies where the transcript records numeric results.

House Bill 883 (reduce Supreme Court budget) ' Motion: Substitute motion to table (Representative Fitzpatrick). Outcome: Tabled. The transcript records the substitute motion passed \"with those present\" but does not include a numeric roll-call in the excerpt.

House Bill 337 (general tax revisions) ' Motion: Do pass (mover listed). Outcome: Passed the committee by roll call. Recorded tally in transcript: 13 yes, 10 no.

House Bill 361 (funding for English-language-learner stipends and supports) ' Motion: Do pass as once amended. Outcome: Passed the committee by roll call. Recorded tally in transcript: 17 yes, 6 no.

House Bill 876 (sawmill revitalization special revenue account) ' Motion: Do pass as twice amended. Outcome: Passed by committee. Recorded committee statement: \"20 for yes, 1 for no, 2 absent votes.\" Final recorded action: bill passes as twice amended.

Senate Bill 72 (presumptive Medicaid eligibility) ' Motion: Amend and pass as once amended. Outcome: The committee passed the amendment (vote recorded 18 yes, 5 no) and then passed the bill as once amended by voice vote; transcript records the bill \"passes unanimously\" in the excerpt after the amendment.

House Bill 525 (vape regulation) ' Motion: Substitute motion to table (Representative Fitzpatrick). Outcome: Tabled. The transcript notes the motion sent the bill to the table; a specific roll-call number is not clearly recorded in the excerpt.

Notes: The transcript contains additional roll-call votes and procedural actions across many bills; the items above reflect those with explicit committee outcomes recorded in the provided excerpt. Several items were deferred or had motions withdrawn for additional staff drafting (noted in the HB4 discussion).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Friday, Mar 28, 2025 15:15 - 17:43","oneSentenceSummary","The Appropriations Committee issued several formal actions during executive session; this roundup lists bills with recorded outcomes and vote tallies where available.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100391,"Appropriations debate centers on federal-authority bill and proposal to sweep ARPA interest into capital projects",2406,5191000,7597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e&start=5191&end=7597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e/thumbnail_5191000.jpg","/articles/6100391/Montana/Appropriations-debate-centers-on-federal-authority-bill-and-proposal-to-sweep-ARPA-interest-into-capital-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100391-17e03c4b6bed242156bd2c366124a789/orig.mp4?Expires=1770644559&Signature=XfSSCIJfxkK3MWvKyMV3Ro9Ooo0xLpwCLmQezWxGYGoR3T9sN6fkbpqSr8bEt6~EA-XNlGtf~Z2jWEFuFnB4KYXvN7bS4DPyj5thr5EVGypfdDotA88ObWuo8OLvEJp2TMniobBl9JyjyPqlj0IC6Nb8DfkoEJA09iBFk6QygM95hFHDJtWNdkR8q955IO74wDMRJO1gtvkrlp16oUmMBfs1dpuywsqshecsopPE0sWkj85j~P8C1doPVu0xoivbk3ITziFvMUgvhhro8Im1UhiRxIg-evobpSFKUrBU8lKAgPpONN7kmjIK-ataiu6hhe-Bq1D56TV-sNwsvcZlwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 4, the biennial budget amendment and federal-authority bill, dominated a lengthy Appropriations Committee discussion about federal awards, agency authority and a proposed plan to move American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) interest into infrastructure spending and then into the capital development fund.

Budget staff and the Office of Budget and Program Planning (OBPP) described the bill as a regular vehicle to grant agencies authority to accept and spend federal awards received while the Legislature is in session. OBPP's Evelyn Davis told the committee those awards \"have been received by our office since you guys have been in session\" and that the bill lists separate awards by dashed entries in the draft language.

Representative Fitzpatrick and others proposed an amendment (sponsored in the hearing) that would reallocate ARPA interest and balances to specific infrastructure bills: roughly $1.7 million to projects in House Bill 7, $25 million for water and wastewater projects in House Bill 6, about $224,000 for irrigation projects and $4.5 million for nonpoint-source pollution work in the Department of Environmental Quality. Chair Jones and staff discussed the logistics of timing the transfers so that the accounting would use a date-certain balance.

Members expressed several concerns: Representative Falk asked whether the sweep could be implemented retroactively to capture interest already earned; staff said they would need time to confirm statutory authority and drafting. Representative Mercer and others pressed for clarification on why particular federal awards were listed and whether some listings had moved location in the draft. Representatives sought assurance that the transfers would not remove funds already obligated for projects and asked staff to verify remaining balances.

Budget staff and legislative fiscal staff said they would refine the amendment language and return on Monday with precise drafting. The committee did not finalize a do-pass motion for House Bill 4 in the excerpt; Vice Chair Mercer withdrew a due-pass motion on the bill so staff could rework the language and the committee could revisit it at the next meeting.

","The Appropriations Committee spent extended time on House Bill 4, the federal-authority/budget amendment bill, debating a proposal to move existing ARPA interest and remaining balances into specific infrastructure bills and then to sweep any remaining balance into the capital development fund.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100401,"Lawmaker seeks deep cut to Montana Supreme Court budget; committee tables bill",1185,499000,1684000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e&start=499&end=1684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e/thumbnail_499000.jpg","/articles/6100401/Montana/Lawmaker-seeks-deep-cut-to-Montana-Supreme-Court-budget-committee-tables-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100401-dc73518690d2fbabffe50ea0a8873eee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770644559&Signature=V2vmpIt~5bdJuv~n8xRk5rq0JlbSKMJGnsHAxgGsZjGjP-t1a4RdinDcnGFqDeUDeoSPme4KFC02QcYgHj5rdZRtlfPd~eTu9SkOxlsqFpEASX48F44~1Sw5BKxTt~g~muPyZk2mr3tl65cM2mQ99RkLDcLE1UNzTehNT4O93ftgI1cckSK6LkOa3PjMJYYAaeaYNxqrMrIA7gHRzgI9irx3VjB61w0o8cHEMF8jRX~NhYaOxc-W5qaTWB-NVEemM6COogN2lLpGsWvbF5CcFAFtiI-l41Vzj8c5jrNubEhxxv4SPVEkgKpnx3VtvdtWKmFlo5Wj3X8JZwbSmCU9cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Lucas Schubert, R, introduced House Bill 883 to the House Appropriations Committee, saying the bill would reduce funding for the Montana State Supreme Court and arguing the move is needed to check what he called \"massive judicial overreach.\" \"My name is Lucas Schubert. Last name spelled s c h u b e r t. Today, bring before you house bill 8 8 3, a bill to reduce the funding for the Montana State Supreme Court,\" Schubert said.

Schubert told the committee the court had exceeded its role by overturning election-related laws and weighing in on issues he described as \"their own personal opinion,\" and he framed budget cuts as a lawful exercise of the legislature's \"power of the purse.\" He proposed setting the Supreme Court's biennial budget at $18,000,000 and said the committee could change the exact number.

Opponents representing the judicial branch and legal community said such a large, across-the-board reduction would impair essential services. Dave McAlpin, court administrator for the judicial branch, testified in opposition: \"I think this bill would severely cut the budget of the judiciary enough to make us incapable to accomplish the statutes and the constitutional mandate.\" Bruce Spencer, speaking for the State Bar of Montana, said the Supreme Court's operations cover information technology, payroll and human resources, judicial education, child-abuse-and-neglect federal court-improvement work, boards that regulate judges and the practice of law, and the sentence review board; he warned an arbitrary cut would \"abrogate all the hard work\" of staff who develop the court's budget.

Heather O'Loughlin of the Montana Budget and Policy Center also opposed the bill and urged the committee to reject the approach.

During questions members pressed the sponsor on alternatives and scope: some suggested more surgical reductions focused on staff or discrete programs rather than a broad cut that could reach court operations; the sponsor said the committee could narrow the reduction to particular line items if it preferred.

Representative Fitzpatrick offered a substitute motion to table House Bill 883. The committee adopted the substitute motion to table. The hearing record for HB 883 closed after that action.

The transcript records discussion and testimony but does not show the bill returned for a final do-pass vote in the portion of the session provided here.","Representative Lucas Schubert introduced House Bill 883 to reduce funding for the Montana State Supreme Court and urged an $18 million biennial cap, saying the move is needed to check \"massive judicial overreach.\"",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100396,"Lawmakers hear bill to add recruitment and retention funds for Missoula crime lab",497,1738000,2235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e&start=1738&end=2235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813617-4a4c9bd43e7134d47e5ad0bce1f23f7e/thumbnail_1738000.jpg","/articles/6100396/Montana/Lawmakers-hear-bill-to-add-recruitment-and-retention-funds-for-Missoula-crime-lab","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100396-555be7440959c486b1e9f4014dab5689/orig.mp4?Expires=1770644559&Signature=IdqnIpskVa4AKCo5j2PdTBc-WPbutewqQALkiqbsCAgOYOuYfh888g4bVQ4CNJWsRcJ3Z5u0MgXiNbehOMB-mFAo9L16P7o8HtCjoLYlJLyeODaSRbnVZlqrTeISZW~9n1GKAavRk~bZHLEXN9X1PL3z11C2pJiy3NggOLANII70IUVN2h84AE~lXKjJme5RxLFKPne86UZsQzm6DoJ9SJf6ehBQYugdWsZRWXsWlPS8Na-3j3jQddYu7R3~6LSFH-NxT0TRer9rHMh~9mbgIz3TJsc2nJbfBr1ECxhFo6dcEOdyfSpaKPDNa0YEHkQ-V4y~HNn~K13QpHdbkp2sWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Jane Gillette (R) introduced House Bill 870, an appropriation to provide recruitment and retention funds to Montana's crime lab. \"Today I bring before you House Bill 8 70. And it's an appropriation bill. It has just a tiny amount, capturing it from, the surplus revenue of $120,000 and then next year, $120,000 all OTO, for the purposes of providing recruitment and retention, funds to the crime lab,\" Gillette said.

Gillette said she toured the Missoula crime lab and found its work \"absolutely remarkable\" and that staff training is lengthy; she told the committee the lab had recently lost at least one medical examiner and other specialty scientists and that a small, targeted amount could help with retention and recruitment. She cited a Gallatin County cold case that took about 20 years to resolve and said delayed testing can impede case resolutions.

Committee members asked whether the request duplicated recruitment and retention funding already considered in HB2 and whether the executive branch would better allocate larger recruitment pools. Representative Nave noted HB2 addressed medical examiner staffing but said the crime lab's broader needs remain. Representative Walsh and Representative Tuss questioned bypassing the standard appropriations/ HB2 path; Gillette said she had committed to the Department of Justice to run the bill after her visit and wanted to ensure the funds specifically reached the crime lab.

Representative Matthews and others raised questions about the bill's broad title and drafting; Gillette said the language was hurried and that staff and the committee could refine it. No final committee vote on House Bill 870 appears in the transcript excerpt provided; the sponsor asked for a do-pass recommendation during the hearing but the record shows only that the hearing closed.

The transcript includes members' questions and requests for follow-up information from agencies about staffing losses and how this request relates to HB2 funding.

","Representative Jane Gillette introduced House Bill 870 to provide $120,000 this year and $120,000 next year (one-time-only) for recruitment and retention at the Missoula crime lab; sponsors and members discussed training, recent staff losses and whether the proposal duplicates larger recruitment funds in HB2.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key Appropriations Committee executive actions and outcomes

Appropriations debate centers on federal-authority bill and proposal to sweep ARPA interest into capital projects

Lawmaker seeks deep cut to Montana Supreme Court budget; committee tables bill

Lawmakers hear bill to add recruitment and retention funds for Missoula crime lab