[{"_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",6100456,"mediaKeyId","2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a","parentId",2813574,"title","Panel debates HB 756 changes to historic‑preservation criteria; advocates warn narrowing could exclude key upgrades","audioSeconds",1317,"startMs",5838000,"endMs",7155000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a&start=5838&end=7155","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a/thumbnail_5838000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100456/Montana/Panel-debates-HB-756-changes-to-historicpreservation-criteria-advocates-warn-narrowing-could-exclude-key-upgrades","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100456-d9a2f5732a4abd3dea07e7ecaf9c2485/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733838&Signature=g6tdNZJoZThkH6YH1OPmZTg8S1Yb7G4iKtl48Yo8qic88NdWBG2HrS4EqHJQyMt5jpkf6DnjTy6Gu87HRC0ziL-sIsDYfOpmr9LMAJGov6K-ek8w7K0LNhuwxb6Ct-hGnJHlqfeN5IDBYMltSxlXFAzDrNSCPvY6NFkXS1JuHxH4zokIAVjk~ze~JZcFc2fABSQVdiC3ap2kJ1OET2vyVYJWYCuau3mO7OHytE6hoYUwPVwVnRcdQWWWu4SwLfqkE81I-5s0KnQdihKkAbBx-c9jtfrF6Zy~YAJyDtU-~yrM2kB0coXCj0tUVdB1MTgc~16P-D2kKIo8imYzFj3YQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Finance and Claims Committee held an initial hearing on House Bill 756, a subcommittee bill that would amend statutory review criteria for the Montana Historic Preservation Grant program.

Representative John Fitzpatrick, the bill sponsor, said subcommittee members unanimously supported changes aimed at better targeting limited funds toward work that preserves the building envelope — roof, walls, foundation and core utilities — and toward projects with discernible public benefit. He said the bill removes broad economic‑development scoring language that he characterized as difficult to apply and would require for‑profit applicants to provide a 1:1 cash match.

Mandy Rambo, deputy and acting director of the Montana Department of Commerce, told the committee the department appreciates clarifications in the bill and supports efforts to make the program more focused. Preserve Montana testified in soft opposition. Executive Director Jenny Buddenborg said the proposed language may restrict the program’s ability to fund interior upgrades and life‑safety items that are essential to reuse, including HVAC, fire protection and ADA improvements. She urged the Legislature to use the interim to develop thoughtful changes and to avoid retroactive shifts to criteria used by applicants.

Committee members asked how the bill would be applied to museums and historical societies, whether prioritizing exterior stabilization would unduly restrict projects that need modernization to remain usable, and how the department would score economic impact. Steffens of Commerce said he would need to provide some clarifications to the committee after the hearing.

The bill drew detailed policy questions but no committee vote. Several senators said they viewed the measure as an improvement in clarity, while others emphasized the need to preserve flexibility to fund upgrades required by building and life‑safety codes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance and Claims - Friday, Mar 28, 2025 07:58 - 10:26","oneSentenceSummary","Senators considered House Bill 756, which proposes statutory changes to the Montana Historic Preservation Grant program to prioritize exterior stabilization and impose higher matches on for‑profit applicants.","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},6100461,"Legislators weigh changes and nominations in House Bill 12 historic preservation funding",4574,1091000,5665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a&start=1091&end=5665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a/thumbnail_1091000.jpg","/articles/6100461/Montana/Legislators-weigh-changes-and-nominations-in-House-Bill-12-historic-preservation-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100461-a44feb96f5a91288a5b6c0dc46afda09/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733838&Signature=UPx-RHJYRY7coMi5WfAxG38D1RRgDEJvgza4J~ECaSCmBMWMc9DxaoEK4iE0X~--04vMNiqTyMdypuOLoJmZHFEANDsU0sMIULv0A5t4FUC1wFMIaK71S3-ipMgaJhuWkawqnXzT3-NkOmkwR8ijD9lPFnw4qoQQXgOwkvMwK8X63VQTznz49MdHY89xWRUEIxmNmFninAmNkCuDDy3J61DhiKsSpShBPhJ5APUe3ivO3Dp00cR8ZVKnLDJouzMy7Pk1OUs0B-gP7fSuwiLFYwrx9hI-cgh~H5fgK6kTOtFCqCO6SrO7EsxNnILHef-0-5AQnyQ8XXf2c0wZo8wnKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators on the Finance and Claims Committee opened a public hearing on House Bill 12, the biennial appropriation package for the Montana Historic Preservation Grant (MHPG) program, and heard more than a dozen proponents and several opponents.

Representative John Fitzpatrick, the bill sponsor, said the program is funded by a five‑percent allocation of bed‑tax revenue designated when the Montana Heritage Center was established and is administered by the Department of Commerce. Fitzpatrick said the House subcommittee adopted evaluation criteria intended to stretch a limited appropriation among more communities: the subcommittee reduced the maximum grant from $500,000 to $350,000, emphasized preservation of the building envelope (roof, walls, foundation, exterior doors and windows and core utilities) and prioritized projects providing defined public use. He said the committee also sought to avoid repeatedly funding projects that had received an award in the previous 2023 cycle.

Galen Steffens, community development division administrator at the Department of Commerce, described the agency’s role in administering the program and provided handouts listing prior awards. Autumn Coleman of DNRC and other agency and county officials described the regional projects in the bill.

Proponents from communities across Montana testified about the public benefits of specific projects. Speakers included leaders from Anaconda (Elks Lodge and Montana Hotel/Cultural projects), Missoula County (John Hengen Local Government Building), the Yellowstone Art Museum (Billings), the Yucca Theater, the Lavina School district, the Scandinavian Methodist Church in Kalispell and multiple small‑town historic sites and ranch projects. Several applicants asked the committee to reinstate projects that were removed or re‑scored on the House side; buttes and Butte Steam Plant proponents asked for reconsideration of a removed application.

Preserve Montana, a statewide preservation nonprofit, testified in soft opposition to amendments that change review criteria and remove some applicants from funding. Executive Director Jenny Buddenborg asked the Legislature to use the rules in place at the time applications were submitted and to avoid changing eligibility standards \"midstream.\" She and others warned that narrowing the definition of preservation to primarily exterior work risks excluding interior upgrades — including HVAC, fire protection and ADA improvements — that make many historic properties usable and financially viable.

Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art in Great Falls also testified in opposition, saying it ranked highly in Commerce’s review and that removing or downgrading projects now could harm museums that rely on the MHPG cycle. Several private building owners — including the Mountain States Telephone building in Miles City — joined proponents in asking the committee to restore or include their projects. Proponents described matching commitments ranging from private donations to county/local matches and noted many projects are led by volunteers and small nonprofits.

Committee members asked how the subcommittee applied the new criteria, how the department scores economic benefit and what residual funds might be available for amendments; the budget office said roughly $1 million remained in the fund balance after house‑side changes and reversions. Sponsors and agency staff said they were open to amendments on the Senate floor and emphasized the Legislature’s authority to reprioritize awards.

No formal committee vote was taken during the hearing; the committee moved on after testimony. Fitzpatrick closed by reiterating the limited funding pool (approximately $6 million available versus roughly $23 million in requests, as he described it) and reminding members that the Legislature may amend allocations before final passage.","Senate Finance and Claims took testimony on House Bill 12, the Montana Historic Preservation Grant program, hearing community proponents and preservation advocates after the House subcommittee applied new prioritization criteria for a tight pool of funds.",{"_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},6100466,"Committee reviews House Bill 11 to fund water, wastewater and rural bridge projects",850,233000,1083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a&start=233&end=1083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a/thumbnail_233000.jpg","/articles/6100466/Montana/Committee-reviews-House-Bill-11-to-fund-water-wastewater-and-rural-bridge-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100466-63595edf8d55eeb13a6978d4e63c4a0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733838&Signature=OjKTwqF7Csfqyru1oyfGOwO0hJr5P5-EduXFhuGTXBI2SzOPUQkx4-d5O-kj3IlX7jgPVHupTijTPDyb5tqHjupDwI0vOC8Peu2yqyT~kCSJGxIUHjYxY1iWjSyAvZl2V7pWab1GHSzao94NC~uxbStGDPsxn4Aw0k021jfUEgJn0GZah7h-7ds1ABBo77BGP8jDYhgfb4BnteoVXUCD~dp2~juP0iWQd3K6JfVeMpbxBe87yPVSYaAsREE0S3VR122C6EwkyKRixcGxBRYWWC1nBav-rWKmJJjSaTOyEjDmdCTKlIxXyJLzoACBAOQipWSY1xIU0dIPzLNxthuagQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House lawmakers and agency officials told the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on an initial hearing that House Bill 11 would channel interest from the coal severance tax into local infrastructure grants, rural bridge repairs and regional water systems.

Representative John Fitzpatrick, House District 76, the bill sponsor, told the committee the Montana Coal Endowment Program is administered by the Department of Commerce and “basically funds 3 kinds of activities.” He said the program provides grants up to $750,000 for units of local government for water and wastewater systems, includes bridge funding for counties and supports regional water projects.

The bill, Fitzpatrick said, reached the Senate with two changes made on the House side: an Arlee Water System application was removed after the applicant did not appear at the subcommittee hearing, and a Petroleum County bridge project was withdrawn and replaced in the ranking by a Missoula County bridge project. “All of the rank ordering that was done was done here by the Department of Commerce,” Fitzpatrick said.

Galen Steffens, community development division administrator at the Montana Department of Commerce, and Autumn Coleman, deputy administrator for the Conservation and Resource Development Division at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, both testified they administer or review the programs and answered committee questions.

Local officials urged the committee to reinstate a removed Arlee application. Charles Hedley, general manager for Arlee’s water and sewer system, and Mary Stranahan, president of the Arlee Sewer Board, described decades of deferred maintenance on the system, a recent preliminary engineering review supported by ARPA funds and a current lagoon issue they say prevents community growth. “It needs to be put from facultative to aerated to allow for more tribal community growth,” Hedley said. Stranahan said the district has secured some matching funds and pledged stewardship of any awarded money.

Missoula County Chief Administrative Officer Chris Lounsbury thanked the committee for including roughly $500,000 to support the Styler Drive West bridge in Condon and said the county is providing a dollar‑for‑dollar match.

Committee members questioned why the Petroleum County bridge was removed; Fitzpatrick said the applicant withdrew, likely because it could not secure the required 1:1 match. Jason Harlow of the Governor’s Budget Office was available to answer fiscal questions.

Fitzpatrick closed by urging the committee to add Arlee back into the bill: \"I encourage you to go ahead and put the Arley Water System back in,\" he said.

No formal committee action or vote occurred during the hearing; staff and proponents said they were available to respond to follow‑up questions and to supply additional documentation if the committee considers amendments.","House lawmakers and agency officials told the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on an initial hearing that House Bill 11 would channel interest from the coal severance tax into local infrastructure grants, rural bridge repairs and regional water systems.",{"_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},6100451,"Senators take up House Bill 182 to fund competitive grants for senior centers",525,7130000,7655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a&start=7130&end=7655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813574-3d5ed2d853451610dd9c58e696d61f1a/thumbnail_7130000.jpg","/articles/6100451/Montana/Senators-take-up-House-Bill-182-to-fund-competitive-grants-for-senior-centers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100451-becf7514f76464d8028b13fab64c9c9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770733838&Signature=g2sQck3GEi6dX2sOq0gmVkfWrgRz74ZGXaE2TSPXSXEMaxGHVkY5qt9D93Dq4hLwPKtyHYHpSRP9Cbl3CWOwDgclbOOpws-gQh~MM5MhdAaLXPBcyVU0tttqplDhJKhEhv9xkiXRapHDYJ0SPl3sFkDHcCI~~Xhayep2RYQsSX9c~~YC3uvOAz0Y3bPJ~UrKMN6ZUYxHMrWmgkiX79oGTN~GNg9-e2w~wNf9TpLARmivqXtRwMb8Nzy9Awuw0LYidrdlLAy68QhB0xKbnikrLA4I0T6~2V46SgpGsFHpP5OcXoSkobjeusri4Nkxdl5HXobD-cDipKZe1sbpkKGNYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Finance and Claims opened a hearing on House Bill 182, which would appropriate $5,000,000 one‑time to the Department of Commerce to fund competitive grants for senior citizen centers.

Representative John Fitzpatrick, sponsor, said the program is modeled on earlier one‑time grants for homeless shelters and would reside in Commerce’s Community MT division if approved. The bill requires a cash 1:1 match from applicants and is intended to allow senior centers to make remodels, repairs or equipment purchases. Fitzpatrick described the funding as one‑time only and said the statute contains legislative guidance for a fair application process.

Mandy Rambo, deputy director and acting director at the Department of Commerce, testified as an informational witness and confirmed the agency would administer the grants if the appropriation is enacted. Committee members asked budget and legislative process questions about the fiscal note and where appropriation dollars would be held; Rambo and sponsor explained the appropriation would come from the general fund and be deposited into a state special revenue account for grant administration and awards.

Senators asked practical questions about eligible facilities and how the department would interpret multi‑use sites; Fitzpatrick said facilities may be multi‑use so long as they are not overnight lodging. Senator Temple noted the bill’s design limits grant size to help spread funding statewide; Fitzpatrick said the draft language limits grants (he described a $250,000 maximum and a cap of two awards per county, with a county cap discussed during testimony).

No formal committee action or vote was taken. The department said it would provide additional fiscal detail if requested; sponsors said the bill is intended to give communities a single appropriation opportunity for senior center upgrades.","The committee heard House Bill 182, a one‑time $5 million appropriation to the Department of Commerce to create a competitive grant program for senior citizen centers. The bill requires a 1:1 cash match and sets program design features intended to spread funding across counties; the department provided the fiscal note and answered questions about","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel debates HB 756 changes to historic‑preservation criteria; advocates warn narrowing could exclude key upgrades

Legislators weigh changes and nominations in House Bill 12 historic preservation funding

Committee reviews House Bill 11 to fund water, wastewater and rural bridge projects

Senators take up House Bill 182 to fund competitive grants for senior centers