March 17-21, 2025

Theyyyy're back!; MUS priorities holding strong; Budget action imminent; Regent confirmation hearings on the horizon; policy hearings scheduled

After what seemed like five seconds, the 69th Montana Legislature returned from Transmittal Break this week— rested, renewed, relaxed, and ready to pass a budget and be done.

Although members still have one more week to request certain categories of bills, the odds of graduating from a draft request to a bill grow ever slimmer for the requests gathering virtual dust in the drafters’ queues.

Getting it Done

The MUS priorities all saw action this week and the system’s state funding, staff pay, and infrastructure measures all continue on a positive trajectory.

HB 2
On Wednesday, the 23-member House Appropriations Committee reviewed Section E of the General Appropriations Act, including the OCHE/MUS budget. In February, the Section E Joint Subcommittee agreed to the OCHE present law budget adjustments containing the level of funding for and investment in system and campus programs, operations, and services that OCHE and the Governor’s office had negotiated during the interim. Additionally, the Subcommittee made several adjustments to the system’s budget before handing it off to the full Committee. The changes included:

  • funding to maintain 1-2-Free on MUS campuses, as well as extend the program to Community Colleges and Tribal Colleges;
  • ongoing funding to maintain and scale the highly successful Montana 10 program;
  • funding for the Central Application System;
  • requested funding to allow for growth in medical residency programs; and
  • one-time-only funding to assist the system’s compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), a project headed by UM; and
  • denial of a request the Executive budget had proposed to explore a hybrid online law school at the University of Montana.

The Commissioner and OCHE staff attended Wednesday’s hearing, and the Commissioner fielded several questions about the medical residency and professional student exchange programs, data sharing with OPI, and co-requisite programming required for students who enter the system needing additional preparation for college-level courses. Members also discussed with the Commissioner the hybrid law school proposal and whether researching the demand for and sustainability of such a program could be begun without the additional funding.

The Appropriations Committee spent much of this week on HB 2 hearings and plans to begin executive action on Monday.

HB 5
Also on Wednesday, House Appropriations passed HB 5 (Long-range building appropriations) as amended with all the system’s proposed projects and spending authority intact, as well as with additional funding and authority for projects at MSU, UM, and Montana Tech. The 22-1 vote signals solid support as it heads to the House floor.

HB 10
Having sailed easily though the House early in the week with an 82-16 final vote, HB 10 (Long-range information technology appropriations) has already begun its Senate run, with a referral to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee. That committee has not yet scheduled a hearing.

HB 13
HB 13 (State employee pay plan) cleared the Senate 38-12 on Thursday and is headed to the Governor’s desk. As has been the case with this proposal since the beginning, the impassioned debate has swirled around the inclusion of a new way to calculate legislator pay rather than whether to increase salaries and benefit levels for state employees. Efforts to remove the legislator pay provision have all failed.

Board of Regents Confirmations

Senate Resolutions confirming Board of Regent members Dean Folkvord, Heather Hoyer, and Raina Mortenson have been introduced and will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on April 1, beginning at 3:00pm.

The sponsor of the resolutions and Committee chair, Sen. John Fuller (R-Kalispell), has indicated that the Committee will consider each resolution separately, allowing time for the committee to ask questions of the Regents. If passed by the Committee, the resolutions will move to the Senate floor for approval. The Senate is the sole confirming authority for all appointees, so these measures do not go through a House process.

The Resolutions are:

SR 69 – Regent Folkvord
SR 70 – Regent Hoyer
SR 71 – Regent Mortenson

Select Policy Bills in Motion

HB 284 - Establish an interim committee to investigate civil rights violations and censorship within the MUS.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear HB 284 on April 2.

HB 300 - Generally revise laws related to discrimination in education
HB 300 passed the Senate on a final vote of 32-18 and is headed for the Governor’s desk.

HB 400 – Enact the “Free to Speak Act”
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear HB 400 on April 2.

HB 499 – Extend the grow your own grant program
The House Education Committee heard HB 499 on Monday. OCHE staff appeared in an informational capacity and answered Committee questions about the program. The Committee has not yet acted on the bill.

HB 663 – Revise education laws related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
On Monday, HB 663 was assigned to the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.

HB 718 – Generally revise laws relating to incarceration
The Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee will hear HB 718 on March 24.

SB 33 – State buildings subject to building code review
OCHE supported this proposal in committee, and it was concurred in by the House State Administration Committee on Wednesday. The Senate will consider it on 2nd Reading March 24.

Time Served

Legislative Day: 55
Percent complete: 61.11%