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.