[{"_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",6095469,"mediaKeyId","2837419-0ab3d47a7dd808f7a15017e7353c4833","parentId",2837419,"title","Senate committee hears bill to re-bucket lodging-tax dollars, sharply expands emergency lodging for trafficking and domestic-violence victims","audioSeconds",2680,"startMs",120000,"endMs",2800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837419-0ab3d47a7dd808f7a15017e7353c4833&start=120&end=2800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837419-0ab3d47a7dd808f7a15017e7353c4833/thumbnail_120000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095469/Montana/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-re-bucket-lodging-tax-dollars-sharply-expands-emergency-lodging-for-trafficking-and-domestic-violence-victims","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095469-3f80b3f4d76f76fceadb3285bf0c29d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138464&Signature=lc9CuP4p9DHIBncWCa8djgzjvhZZ7MPpvDW2rsvQtO3Tw~8ZnC~bkBahSjLh-yKjbDR7s1gTCVmlvHSYGY1slV9xK5dEKpQ6omGr4gIelKXWSDXTaIaN94tehrvaIIDj1bPPt-LjyQMFX97v2IMw3tu0RjiskdhZyI3JR3Yb5keJKiTwqfOBmcGOJfnigIhmaIBzrt1MhsqO297ivRmOlI6BqVRHi2zYplzdfr55tKEnQ6KlalxkWi2DkUzB4i0ZVuYL~S8bZnQ03oov6htXMrT8osSqky3rMpP4BGeoXZ5BD-AHIDa4vx4IHP1w9LOAcrFoRs3tFt4lmXaSMFIwrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Finance and Claims on Thursday heard testimony on Senate Bill 409, which would change how Montana’s lodging facility use tax is split among the Department of Commerce, historic preservation, university research and a new recovery fund for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

Sen. Daniel Zollnikov, R-Billings, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee he reworked last session’s language because the prior approach created auditing problems and left too little direction for how Commerce should spend the money. “So instead, I put together … and then kinda created buckets, and then created new buckets, and tried to put a little bit of direction in place,” Zollnikov said.

The bill replaces the 2023 scheme that routed a large share of lodging-tax revenue through a 60–63% “commerce purse” that was then internally allocated. Zollnikov said that structure became “an audit nightmare.” Under SB 409 the bill distributes named percentages directly from receipts, clarifying that Commerce may use funds for Montana promotions, Main Street programs, wayfinding and signage, trade-office support, and targeted “real tourism” pilot projects.

Why it matters: The measure redirects millions in lodging-tax revenue. Committee members and Commerce officials said the change shifts funding among well-known programs — marketing and wayfinding, the University of Montana’s Institute for Tourism, Recreation and Research (ITRR), the Montana Heritage Commission and a new recovery-and-lodging program administered through the Department of Justice. Supporters say the change gives Commerce clearer authority to seed rural and tribal tourism and to relieve pressure on law-enforcement and victim-services systems. Opponents warned it reduces funding available for existing Commerce programs and university research.

Key program changes and dollar cues

- Emergency lodging and recovery: The bill increases a lodging-tax allocation intended to reimburse emergency lodging and short-term recovery services for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking to 2.5% of receipts. Sponsor Zollnikov described the change as funding “a recovery system” to support victims beyond immediate emergency lodging, referencing 60–90 day recovery approaches used in other states.

- Bucketing and audit fix: Zollnikov said the bill removes last session’s 63% “commerce purse” and instead allocates specified percentages from the top. “We swiped we took out that 63% and did the adjustment of the percent,” he said. Department officials described the change as an answer to audit compliance problems when allocations were calculated at the end of the fiscal year.

- Montana Heritage Commission: Mandy Rambo, Acting Director at the Montana Department of Commerce, said the Heritage Commission — administratively attached to Commerce — will receive a flat 2% under SB 409 rather than the prior statutory language that gave 2.7% or $1,000,000, whichever was smaller. Rambo told the committee that change will amount to roughly a $500,000 increase to the commission’s budget for the upcoming biennium.

- University research (ITRR): Shauna Lyons, identified in testimony as an agency director, and representatives for the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education said the bill would reduce OCHE’s Institute for Tourism, Recreation and Research appropriation by roughly $300,000. Lyons said ITRR would have to prioritize or delay projects such as research on the Bob Marshall Wilderness complex or short-term rental impacts.

Agency and industry support

Representatives of the tourism and victim-services communities spoke in favor. Chris Averill, speaking for the Montana Lodging and Hospitality Association, said the changes further the goal of dispersing visitation beyond heavily touristed Western Montana and noted broader economic impacts: “Out of state tourists spend $5,500,000,000 in Montana last year … the tourism industry supports 66,000 jobs for Montanans,” Averill said.

Victim-service advocates urged support for the expanded recovery funding. Kelsen Young, executive director of the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and ****** Violence, and Stephanie Bauchus, an attorney and co-chair of a human trafficking task force, thanked the sponsor and said the emergency lodging program is operational and would benefit from expanded recovery dollars. Bauchus called the funding “critical” and said it has been administered “very well.”

Questions and concerns raised in committee

- Scope and trade-offs: Several senators asked for a clear, side-by-side chart showing how the bill’s reallocations compare to the current distribution and to the allocations created by last session’s SB 540. Senator Ellis asked whether agencies had prepared a “cheat sheet” on where funds would move; Rambo agreed to prepare a spreadsheet of Commerce allocations for committee members.

- Rural and tribal tourism vs. marketing cuts: Senator Boldman and others pressed whether cuts to marketing and wayfinding would harm the Made in Montana program, trade offices and Main Street grants. Rambo said the department plans to cover those programs and to realize savings by using a new in-state marketing vendor and more targeted media buys. She told the committee that roughly $890,000 of the reduction in Commerce’s marketing/wayfinding lines would be redirected into the victims’ lodging and recovery allocation, and that other areas such as agritourism grants would see increases.

- Program design and administration: Senators asked how the recovery funding would be administered, whether it would create new state FTEs and how it would avoid duplication with federal grants already administered by the Department of Justice. Zollnikov and Rambo described the bill’s language as intentionally broad to allow DOJ and victim-service providers to design an appropriate recovery program (length and services), and both said third-party providers would likely deliver services. Zollnikov said the model used in other states typically provides “about 90 days” to help victims regain stability.

What the committee recorded as unresolved

Committee members asked for more technical clarifications before executive action: a side-by-side “bucket” chart showing year-by-year flows, clarification of dates and transfer mechanics in the bill’s technical note, and confirmation of which programs would be reduced (Rambo committed to provide Commerce’s internal spreadsheet). The sponsor closed by reiterating the bill’s intent to spread tourism dollars more evenly across Montana’s regions and to create a recovery pathway for trafficking and domestic-violence victims.

Ending: The committee closed the SB 409 hearing and asked Commerce to provide the requested bucket breakdown before executive action. No final vote on SB 409 was recorded in the hearing; the chairman said executive action would follow on the committee’s agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance and Claims - Tuesday, Apr 1, 2025 07:59 - 10:53","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Finance and Claims on Thursday heard testimony on Senate Bill 409, which would change how Montana’s lodging facility use tax is split among the Department of Commerce, historic preservation, university research and a new recovery fund for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.","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},6095464,"Votes at a glance: Executive actions and roll calls from Senate Finance and Claims (session)",5830,3210000,9040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837419-0ab3d47a7dd808f7a15017e7353c4833&start=3210&end=9040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837419-0ab3d47a7dd808f7a15017e7353c4833/thumbnail_3210000.jpg","/articles/6095464/Montana/Votes-at-a-glance-Executive-actions-and-roll-calls-from-Senate-Finance-and-Claims-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095464-d3f8f4a7b89f45ad2b71dad8649fd2e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138464&Signature=aLZpKdhCs0SmqQOnqB~JFnBfBRZHffjQUEjZwrdo46xwF~mCkddQScHyzKm4b0J826AOuFr2ZkxcP3-79~W3-oRx49a~F5gDGQ1AYoF6oAonpquZ3ZpR0n2jMnCT4YqeRoYUDBcmBOy6eXEPSemDWiwrnxbimN4r4dIidoiOs28v2eHsobdWgRwuBISCG3Z~EcnRozML6JQUg4tP13gOx6ywvzN0iFXXzyfNTNOnqsrVm1x8X5KdU9oDlHEssG8-r7ml00dsZ0zPbxwuya02sDxLbvokQ2MVW4j6My-MwgshV~gYgn346OyLYZfVZPCE0C1sdAvtL5ewL8esCzDVJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance and Claims Committee completed executive action on a series of bills after the SB 409 hearing. Below are the bills that the committee disposed of during the transcripted session; vote tallies are recorded where the transcript provides a roll call and otherwise are noted as \"voice vote\" or \"not specified.\" Where the transcript explicitly states a bill was tabled, that is recorded below.

Votes and outcomes (as recorded in committee transcript)

- Senate Bill 379 (consultation between state agencies and tribal governments): Passed (roll-call recorded as 12 yes, 10 no). Sponsor: Senator Weber; amendment adopted before final passage.

- Senate Bill 32 (property tax reduction): Tabled (committee postponed further action; transcript records tabling and no final roll-call result for passage).

- Senate Bill 491 (revise laws related to sexual-assault evidence kits): Passed (voice vote; transcript: \"Senate bill 491 has passed\").

- Senate Bill 394 (workers’ compensation PTSD coverage — coverage for first responders): Passed as amended (amendment vote recorded 13 yes, 9 no; committee reported the bill as passed after amendment; final roll-call not shown in transcript).

- Senate Bill 405 (additional funding for the Housing Montana Fund): Passed (roll-call recorded as 12 yes, 10 no in committee transcript).

- House Bill 6 (concurrence/amendment regarding ARPA interest transfers and related items): Committee concurred as amended (committee adopted an amendment and then concurred; roll-call on amendment 13 yes, 9 no; concurrence recorded in transcript).

- House Bill 7 (concur as amended): Concurred (committee adopted an amendment and concurred; roll-call recorded 13 yes, 9 no on the amendment; final concurrence recorded).

- House Bill 8 (coal trust loans/bonds; note: floor passage requires higher threshold): Concurred (committee action: concurrence; transcript notes the bill requires a 3/4 vote on the floor).

- Senate Bill 370 (jury-compensation/jury-duty reimbursement changes): Passed as amended (committee roll-call recorded 12 yes, 10 no).

- Senate Bill 413 (makes a crime of disclosing explicit synthetic media): Passed (committee voice vote recorded: \"Senate bill 413 is passed\").

- Senate Bill 287 (pension/transfer bill and related appropriations): Passed (committee roll-call recorded 12 yes, 10 no).

- Senate Bill 307 (corrections/fee/county expense modification): Passed (committee recorded passage after amendment and final motion; transcript records it as passed).

- Senate Bill 343, Senate Bill 343 (housing/fund allocations) and other appropriation bills mentioned later in the agenda: Passed (committee voice votes recorded for several appropriation motions; transcript: \"Senate bill 343 has passed,\" and similar statements for others).

How to read this list

- Counts are printed where the transcript recorded a roll-call tally; where the committee used a voice vote the transcript records only the passage or a voice tally and no numeric roll call. Where the transcript indicates the committee postponed or tabled an item, the entry is shown as tabled.

- These notes summarize committee executive-action outcomes recorded in the supplied transcript. Floor consideration, final enrollment and any governor action are separate steps after committee passage and are not captured here.

If you want, I can prepare a minute-by-minute list of motions (mover/second for each bill and each roll-call line-by-line) or extract the exact roll-call counts by member for the items that used recorded votes.","During the same meeting the Senate Finance and Claims Committee took executive action on multiple bills. This roundup lists committee outcomes recorded in the transcript, with vote tallies where the clerk recorded them and a note where the transcript records only a voice vote or tabling.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee hears bill to re-bucket lodging-tax dollars, sharply expands emergency lodging for trafficking and domestic-violence victims

Votes at a glance: Executive actions and roll calls from Senate Finance and Claims (session)