[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6097837,"mediaKeyId","2826413-9940dd3a6a1c5bd54b623b83ce24f9cf","parentId",2826413,"title","Senate hearing on bill to reallocate marijuana tax revenue pits prevention and enforcement against conservation programs","audioSeconds",4363,"startMs",281000,"endMs",4644000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826413-9940dd3a6a1c5bd54b623b83ce24f9cf&start=281&end=4644","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826413-9940dd3a6a1c5bd54b623b83ce24f9cf/thumbnail_281000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097837/Montana/Senate-hearing-on-bill-to-reallocate-marijuana-tax-revenue-pits-prevention-and-enforcement-against-conservation-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097837-a5b40a36b486390195d755ba9f38bc3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771090122&Signature=gHpwoLvBpWJerzhizNWnY0~tZulQkLVpviGaqHxMMg5h95nulQwQQbXg-B8TyU7v7rR1PHtJtCXGBdb5uPuMGtx-hgYg-jTdzjE3ghsiCtSErcqqndgc~7AjVMg2ITCqBSF84D4~IB3firc5DKRLP-pDlda~6n7emRwPYau8~AiOZfuyc5BYd1EXiMymgHP5PfVaOOEonndD-FdLgdsHzmspErIclw2nL3wqth4p7Awt8fr~mPNlPoccRE-dpv1UsDt0GtkPBgl0TSPzWbSOGUPUyeoTxQVzlOv2gjKaHvbjjE0Ra8utADu6Dk3CR2EARnFlIpH5kdEqXPeLu8HbbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Finance and Claims heard testimony on Senate Bill 307 at a committee hearing where sponsor Senator Tom McGillivray, a Republican representing Senate District 26 in Billings, said the bill would “create a nexus between marijuana revenue and marijuana harm” by moving certain marijuana excise-tax dollars away from habitat, parks, trails and nongame wildlife toward prevention and a marijuana law‑enforcement account.

McGillivray provided a one‑page comparison and a fiscal‑note summary showing current cash flows and account balances for Fish, Wildlife and Parks programs. He told the committee that, according to materials he received from fiscal staff, wildlife habitat has a cash flow of about $4.7 million and an account balance of about $33.7 million; park maintenance has roughly $8.5 million in annual cash inflow with an $11.2 million balance; trail maintenance about $1 million in cash flow with a $6 million balance; and the nongame wildlife account shows a smaller cash flow and a balance near $2 million. He also described a fiscal‑note estimate that would create a marijuana law‑enforcement operations account of about $2.3 million and increase funding for prevention from the current level cited in the note.

Proponents said prevention and enforcement resources are underfunded. Colleen Smith, a certified prevention specialist and executive director (prevention organization), said the state previously expanded a trained prevention workforce using ARPA funds and that the plan to have marijuana revenue replace that funding has not been implemented. “Primary prevention needs to be funded now,” Smith said.

Colleen Rahn, education director for NAMI Montana, noted some HEART fund spending may draw federal Medicaid match dollars and said it is not yet clear how the Department of Public Health and Human Services will allocate those matched funds. Steve Zabawa, founder of Safe Montana, urged the committee to create a THC enforcement division and said a $2.5 million allocation would help target black‑market sellers.

Opponents — a wide group of conservation, trails and sporting organizations — said the bill would break a negotiated funding balance voters and the Legislature set after legalization. Chris Smith, vice chair of the Montana State Parks Foundation, told the committee Montana state parks “do not receive any general fund money” and that the current 4% dedicated marijuana excise tax to parks is “critically important.” Tom Jacobson of the Montana Wildlife Federation called SB 307 a “false choice” and urged tabling the bill.

Other opponents, including Montana Audubon, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the Montana Trails Coalition, Prickly Pear Land Trust and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, said the 32% allocation that supports Habitat Montana, state parks, trails and nongame programs is used for long‑term leases, easements, trail stewardship grants and species work. Peter Dudley of Montana Audubon said nongame funding supports species identified in the state wildlife action plan and helps keep species off federal endangered‑species listings.

Lena Havron, chief financial officer for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, described how grants are disbursed over multiple years and said account balances reflect obligations and the timing of multi‑year grants. She told senators that the Nongame program would “virtually go away” if nongame revenue were removed, noting the only other nongame revenue is a small tax checkoff that brings in about $30,000 a year.

Committee members questioned sponsors and agency staff about account balances, grant cycles and whether the proposed change had been coordinated with the section‑C budgeting process. McGillivray said he is working with FWP and expects to offer amendments on the House side and indicated he would not offer an amendment in committee.

No formal action was taken on SB 307 during the hearing. The committee closed the SB 307 hearing and moved on to other business.

Ending: The sponsor said he would work with Fish, Wildlife and Parks on an amendment and seek changes in the next chamber; no votes or committee directives were recorded in the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance and Claims Monday, Mar 31, 2025 10:29 - 12:03","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Finance and Claims heard testimony on Senate Bill 307, which would redirect some marijuana excise tax revenue away from habitat, parks, trails and nongame wildlife toward substance‑use prevention and a new marijuana law‑enforcement account.","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},6097832,"Committee hears bill to deposit excess coal trust revenue into long‑term trust",363,4637000,5000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826413-9940dd3a6a1c5bd54b623b83ce24f9cf&start=4637&end=5000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826413-9940dd3a6a1c5bd54b623b83ce24f9cf/thumbnail_4637000.jpg","/articles/6097832/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-deposit-excess-coal-trust-revenue-into-longterm-trust","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097832-6ded72708057440715a4f3650344c2f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771090122&Signature=dJgxpTwu089xiHzN2d2Fwa8JdGpO28M~RYp9~d0Hdvo3rlB76pbW40YDHL5jSzabFT0QVNSaMvr7fJRzTJw-dpucQ56GTCKZm2pod2w8uWPNz4HGhFD4tscZwcOo4Ep8TJB1pM~cv3xQTmQ~9G1TSmQzyke4ieI~ODkeMKTdbr1La5JCOIyyfyTySThvV2oOHQPsTPFe1qFgAy3Wz~FiQIHSHNo-JVPvjvxyAX6gb4WEupAC6YyJdo-HHjDvkLvu5lT92Lg5uK7CpcbsGRrQaeii9dGQ46xHMQfPAsOWPyl55txSXvUon5ASRXE~t8aXZWzc8-mc2HHP8lH8~7tBXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Finance and Claims heard Senate Bill 343, a proposal from Senator Dave Fern to direct some excess coal trust revenue into the trust principal as a long‑term savings measure beginning in 2027.

Senator Dave Fern, who represents parts of the Flathead region, told the committee the proposal is intended to build the trust as a savings vehicle for future infrastructure and long‑term needs. Fern said the change would not begin until 2027 and described the plan as a way to “put some revenues into a savings account for the next generations.”

Deputy Director Mandy Rambo of the Montana Department of Commerce provided information on Commerce’s portion of the fiscal note. Mark Bostrom, administrator of the Conservation and Resource Development Division at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and Omar Cortez from the Department of Revenue’s tax policy and research unit were also present to answer informational questions.

Fern cited other states with larger mineral‑trust funds and referenced Alaska, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming as examples of longer‑term funds, saying Montana’s coal trust is comparatively modest because of historical policy choices such as a 50% minimum distribution and restrictions on investments. He said even modest additional annual deposits could grow cumulatively and produce significant future benefits.

Agency witnesses answered technical questions about the fiscal note and revenue projections. No opponents raised testimony during the committee hearing, and Fern closed by asking senators to support the bill.

Ending: The committee took no final action during the hearing; informational witnesses remained available for questions.","Senate Bill 343 would direct excess coal trust revenues into the trust principal beginning in 2027 to build a longer‑term savings vehicle. Sponsor Senator Dave Fern framed the bill as a savings measure; state agencies provided informational testimony on the fiscal effects.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate hearing on bill to reallocate marijuana tax revenue pits prevention and enforcement against conservation programs

Committee hears bill to deposit excess coal trust revenue into long‑term trust