[{"_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",6097846,"mediaKeyId","2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d","parentId",2826388,"title","Appropriations committee executive actions: summary of votes and outcomes","audioSeconds",184,"startMs",4339000,"endMs",4523000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d&start=4339&end=4523","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d/thumbnail_4339000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097846/Montana/Appropriations-committee-executive-actions-summary-of-votes-and-outcomes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097846-193c1437597ef1066555286e5f0abc56/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158058&Signature=i7AF~pAFZ3y8H0BIzed4-HvhrnuoQxfA4nxmQGz0OwcUy2aeOytlezh7aOceWcA9lZ8KDpE54rf6AE~CDNlHKaogex5tNONduOFLWnQhvVGNsn7WvXBBRKOg4vfzlXtOhaTI7tl8L5uld1PbRNpO72dGVbhvnNFapvYLKhg2s9WZoFDgOFG6R~NunpXRj3KAF7yyjCQV6mWqCWitaUqYD3Az6s1qg6qBu8iKs1qr0piWpmSKubzqpyPWHP4y-gd97P8mS9~fwCATyXPahK-bHvNU3WY7bkRv8rI0kUv-AIHWfIL5eSefa-2lgCoZYME5vihE5QJUR2x-XDCttlw0Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","At its Feb. 12, 2025 executive-action session the Montana House Appropriations Committee took final action on several bills. Below is a concise listing of motions, vote results and outcomes as recorded in committee minutes and roll calls.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 483 (as amended): Motion to pass (as amended) — Roll-call result: 22 yes, 1 no. Outcome: passed and reported out of committee. Sponsor/motion mover not specified in the public record excerpt; roll-call tabulation recorded in committee minutes.

- House Bill 515 (maintenance/school facilities adjustments, as amended): Motion to pass (as amended) — Roll-call result: 16 yes, 7 no. Outcome: passed and reported out of committee.

- House Bill 405 (transportation reimbursement item): Motion to pass — initial roll-call result: 10 yes, 13 no (failed); committee subsequently reversed the vote and moved to table the bill. Outcome: tabled after reversal of the vote.

- House Bill 168 (state funding for preschool children with disabilities): Motion to pass (as amended) — Roll-call result: 14 yes, 9 no. Outcome: passed and reported out of committee.

- Senate Bill 165 (snowmobile rental fee for trail grooming): Motion to pass — voice vote reported unanimous among those present. Outcome: passed and reported out of committee.

Each roll call and voice vote was recorded in committee minutes. Individual member votes were read during roll call for the bills requiring a recorded vote; summary tallies above mirror the committee’s stated counts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations Monday, Mar 31, 2025 08:55 - 10:44","oneSentenceSummary","The House Appropriations Committee completed executive action on several bills during the Feb. 12, 2025 session; the committee passed multiple bills as amended, tabled one after reversing a prior vote, and approved Senate Bill 165 by voice vote.","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},6097851,"Proposal would eliminate reduced-price school meal copay; sponsor asks for $600,000 appropriation",755,2143000,2898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d&start=2143&end=2898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d/thumbnail_2143000.jpg","/articles/6097851/Montana/Proposal-would-eliminate-reduced-price-school-meal-copay-sponsor-asks-for-600000-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097851-44739ad515aa8997cc58fd17cb1479e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158058&Signature=bH1jzVDTfz8AK~IgixVbBbxgbqJWzjHJdm7tF00~PfhIFrYLhMTQ5uQmNWNu5izWHxAdSB2lWYflxMkZ7YTtArMIKMAGC2FeKXy~~u83xaMu7IQnWVWSA27bGZYYpu3NMhgPE9KQo16pHc34Qi7D3E6cXHH7jsUuEeKE59wrXkFYRKVLPHu~oDx72M3WSpNNXVU3u8INmZ0Cv-mdcoq7auIk5G8KZunnHQm3PoffHttpIODmUShKVgy1OoK3Wh-imuxmZXvdq7lJbogesS1NI1i0A3wpWgtCDREjgjbzq06kiiMPRq-YOEQUKXcwb8TNY4zlgiC6-Lr8WY3jA8VEEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Melissa Romano presented House Bill 551 and a handout to the Appropriations Committee on Feb. 12, 2025, asking an appropriation of about $600,000 to eliminate the reduced-price category and absorb what families now pay for reduced-price school breakfast and lunch.

Romano’s handout multiplied student counts and eligible free-and-reduced numbers across three school years to estimate roughly $600,000 in annual cost if all eligible students took the subsidized meals for the school year. She said eliminating the 30¢ breakfast and 40¢ lunch copays reduces meal debt, administrative costs of collections and the burden on school staff who must act as debt collectors.

Rob Watson, director of the School Administrators of Montana, testified in support and said the $600,000 estimate aligned with experience; he told the committee that some families assume they will automatically qualify for free meals from year to year and that reduced-price balances often go unpaid and are written off or absorbed by school nutrition programs.

Samantha Dennison of the Montana Food Bank Network testified that 1 in 6 Montana children live in food-insecure households, and urged support. She cited counties with high food insecurity that include Lincoln, Glacier, Deer Lodge, Roosevelt, Liberty, Wibaux and Sanders counties. Tammy Wham, president of the Montana School Nutrition Association, also testified in favor, saying the change helps middle-income families and stabilizes school nutrition budgets.

Committee members asked technical questions about the handout’s enrollment and eligibility figures; Watson and the sponsor said revisions in income thresholds and family circumstances can cause year-to-year changes in eligibility counts. The sponsor noted the bill will require a coordination amendment to match language placed in the omnibus appropriations bill (House Bill 2).

No opponents appeared. The sponsor urged committee support in her closing remarks, calling the measure a “small investment with a very high return” in student wellbeing and administrative efficiency. The committee did not take a final vote on HB 551 during this hearing; staff and the sponsor noted an amendment will be needed to coordinate with the biennial appropriations bill.","House Bill 551 would eliminate the reduced-price meal category (30¢ breakfast, 40¢ lunch) and appropriates about $600,000 to schools to cover the change; testimony tied the change to reducing meal debt and administrative collection costs.",{"_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},6097856,"Lawmakers consider Board of Housing loan program to defer property-tax increases for some seniors",579,1488000,2067000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d&start=1488&end=2067","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d/thumbnail_1488000.jpg","/articles/6097856/Montana/Lawmakers-consider-Board-of-Housing-loan-program-to-defer-property-tax-increases-for-some-seniors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097856-e4edd5199a4e007dafdf5a4c1e8ac75b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158058&Signature=QT8lFlfcxkrllYtw-SLFWtal4SHY-fs9mxO~Fc-~qqVivuNIBxovQHRY0O03V8o4KEYhZZ7e-X4uIZm-yn0hma-4SwS3u7Rr9WNOtXvTLTftB1ITHuXhuibc4kucB9xGsjt~5p2WjyWYF912OS3WYXCbUf9iteIRwX5q1KfMkDdnNJsOQlxt~j~kgH-7eVsvUU9EO7qIOceIUaHCXrNPy~9kkyzmAn~bXHXtglgS8HoXPhRe1dlzobDD6MaQGY0TMN4wwgKw9qhwsKFEHzpPGdmxev~f1d9C0BDXCsK6KGENMwKZ8Q7~z5DPrR6MAO1J0U1ixPTrAy8wak~Jt6iCnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Scott Rosenzweig (R) presented House Bill 836 as a property-tax deferral program for lower-income seniors and eligible active-duty military, modeled on elements of existing programs and administered by the Montana Board of Housing.

Rosenzweig said eligible borrowers must be at least 62, live in their homes for at least five years, reside in Montana at least seven months a year and hold at least 20 percent home equity. The bill would allow the board to extend a simple, non-compounded loan repayable when the homeowner sells the property or from the estate; spouses would be allowed to remain under the loan’s terms after the owner's death.

Sponsor testimony said the Board of Housing could extend lines of credit and secure loans with liens. The fiscal note listed an initial administrative cost of roughly $250,000 for about 2.5 full-time equivalent positions to run the program; Rosenzweig told the committee that, based on updated estimates, a pool of $5 million to $7 million would likely cover the program for the next few years. He said the board expects low default rates in this borrower class.

Committee members asked whether active-duty military should be included. Representative Mercer and Representative Beatty raised concerns that many active-duty service members move frequently and may not retain a primary residence long enough to benefit. Rosenzweig said he was amenable to removing active-duty eligibility if the committee preferred. Representative Walsh and others asked whether loans would be secured; Rosenzweig said he understood the board would place liens and that staff could clarify security and administrative arrangements with the board’s director.

Representative Rosenzweig closed by urging support and offering a possible two-year review to evaluate the program’s operation and personnel needs. No formal committee vote on the bill was recorded during the hearing; the sponsor asked that the committee send the bill to appropriations for further consideration.","House Bill 836 would create a property-tax deferral (home-equity loan) program administered by the Montana Board of Housing for homeowners 62 and older who meet income, equity and residency limits; sponsor estimated program needs $5–7 million start-up and expects low default rates.",{"_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},6097861,"Committee advances $5 snowmobile rental fee to fund trail grooming",4839,811000,5650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d&start=811&end=5650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2826388-de97170d7095e93f1f22a88b74b3a44d/thumbnail_811000.jpg","/articles/6097861/Montana/Committee-advances-5-snowmobile-rental-fee-to-fund-trail-grooming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097861-e0e8b510b10e5c09615ed75160d09411/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158058&Signature=U8B1dwiv15a5ftH2~n68JM6cPdIWjnYMw6QNOsrM1C5dTW7ifdUKu9V~DZEGF4K7ReEh9nB4KscJuGyZ7TFbg1gYWsrvhyJojFdLGUOCd98XOQKkSYLIVi1m9viiVqfSeFTV0ByF7ryJrpMQvR7wzT7raeC7jcBEvaxbMtznW~fexD9zS7vJrZn6Wo57cabc3g2mHbYI7Lep-pe0bfSx6nYGofZh9b2QnG66r6GnWik~r3N0yTQz0b5g8jWhiiuGl0iiyKMB562WKPLKYRZPuWk1mC13DM2JV4MgQvlIW0m2zVApD~ft0ehFDKaq6ExSXyK~UGUVTy3vbF8nW93WoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montana House Appropriations Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 165 on Feb. 12, 2025, a measure that would permit businesses that rent snowmobiles to add a $5 fee to each rental to pay for grooming and maintenance of winter recreation trails.

Sponsor representative Greg Goblander, presenting on behalf of Senator Usher, said the fee is intended to reimburse the volunteer and paid work that keeps trails safe as usage and wear increase. The bill’s fiscal note estimates state special revenue of $380,008.35 annually from the fee, the note says.

The fiscal note included the department’s estimate that 100,000 Montanans snowmobile each year and that a share of that activity is rental-based. Under the fee formula, about 2 percent — roughly $7,616 — would be retained for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks administrative costs and groomer repair. The remaining estimated $373,218 would be distributed to local grooming programs and rental operators for trail grooming, according to testimony.

Fred Bailey, president of the Montana Snowmobile Association, testified as a proponent and described rough, unsafe trails as use increases. “...very unsafe and very uncomfortable, and we’re hoping to just enhance those areas with extra grooming funds,” Bailey said. Committee members were told most grooming is performed by volunteer snowmobile-club members, with some paid grooming.

Committee members asked few substantive policy questions during the hearing. No opponents appeared in the room or online, the clerk reported. The bill’s sponsor closed the hearing by asking the committee to move the bill forward.

In executive action later the same day, the committee voted to pass Senate Bill 165 by voice vote; committee leadership characterized the vote as unanimous among those present. The committee report will send the bill forward to the next stage of the legislative process.

The bill does not change existing safety or trail standards; it only authorizes a rental fee and a channel for the revenues. Specific grant rules, distribution formulas and eligibility for the grooming funds would be set in implementing guidance and the agency fiscal rules if the measure becomes law.","Senate Bill 165 would allow snowmobile rental businesses to add a $5 charge to rentals; fiscal note estimates roughly $380,000 in annual state special revenue, with most funds directed to trail grooming grants and a small share for agency administration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Appropriations committee executive actions: summary of votes and outcomes

Proposal would eliminate reduced-price school meal copay; sponsor asks for $600,000 appropriation

Lawmakers consider Board of Housing loan program to defer property-tax increases for some seniors

Committee advances $5 snowmobile rental fee to fund trail grooming