This was a very busy week in Helena. On the first day back, I presented HB 439 to the House Judiciary committee. This bill deals with fraudulent service animal usage. On Thursday, I presented four bills – HB 37, HB 38, HB 82, and HB 440 – to the Senate Transportation committee, and Friday I presented HB 282 to the Senate Judiciary committee. This bill takes away any possible sexual consent for anyone employed in an alternate adolescent facility with a resident of that facility. Along with these bill presentations, there were the usual committee meetings and house sessions.

Bills of high importance coming before the house soon are Medicaid Expansion and HB 2, which is the budget bill. The appropriations committee has been working on HB 2 since the first days of this legislative session. Montana is mandated to have a balanced budget, so the appropriations committee is trying to fulfill the financial needs of the state and its citizens services while living within the means of the projected revenues. This planned budget with come for review to the House on March 19. This is our only planned business of the day. Usually it is filled with many discussions and often amendments to try and add special pet projects and expenses that also get discussed and voted on. We plan for a long day on the floor.

Also, this last Saturday, hearings for the Medicaid Expansion and Medicaid reform bills were held. The House Judiciary committee will do executive action on those bills sometime in the next week or two so we will find out if we will have the House floor discussion on that topic. We are down to about 35 days to finish our business, so we are looking for long days and lively discussions, the pace is increasing as are the emotions.

Check the Montana State Legislative website to keep up with the progress.

Respectfully,

Representative Denley M. Loge, House District 14,

[email protected]