Fights are ramping up at the state Capitol over what to do with Montana’s marijuana tax revenue and its funding of the Habitat Montana conservation program.
A compromise between the Republican House Speaker and Democratic House Minority Leader could send another $115 million to the permanent coal tax trust fund to be put toward housing for low- and middle-income Montanans.
Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, introduced House Bill 927 Tuesday, which cleared the House Taxation Committee in a unanimous vote shortly after its initial hearing. The first proponent to testify for the bill was Minority Leader Kim Abbott, D-Helena.
The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill Monday the Republican sponsor says would create a Montana law Hyde Amendment that would prohibit public funds from being used to pay for abortions unless they were the result of rape or incest, or if the mother’s life is at risk.
Great Falls Republican Rep. Steven Galloway’s bill to cut Montana unemployment eligibility from 28 weeks to 20, which he says will allow business owners to pay their employees more rather than paying into the unemployment insurance trust fund, saw one of the shortest Appropriations hearings of the session Thursday.