ACTION ALERT: Transmittal Countdown... Only five days left to advocate

Rapid Response Team:

   Just FIVE days remain until the transmittal deadline, the date by which all bills in one chamber must be transmitted to the other. Most of the bills we're following will be voted on by Monday or Tuesday of next week.  

   So, here's a LONG list of action items.  Please take action when you can and as often as you can; Don't let up until one week from tomorrow. 
   You will receive an update when bill statuses change, meaning you'll be getting a lot of email over the next week.  
                                                           Thank you for your advocacy! 
                 Don't let up!  It's perfectly fine to send more than one message on the same topic!

   For all of the following bills, please use one or a mix of these contact points:

• Use this link to contact committees and individual legislators.  
• If your local elected official is on the committee, please call and/or text them to back up your message. 
• A list of committee members is here.
• You can also reach them by leaving a message at the Capitol Switchboard at 406.444.4800 (during business hours only).  The messages get printed and delivered.

     
Power Grab!

• HB 588 was introduced, scheduled for a hearing, and passed out of committee in the last 48 hours.  It is on its way to the full House floor. 
• Please call your local Representative and ask them to VOTE NO!
• HB 588 allows the Governor to appoint up to 10 percent of the employees at any agency (280 people in DPHHS), completely circumventing the hiring process in an 11th hour power grab.
• Employees should be hired according to their skill set, not their friendships or political affiliations.

Union-Busting Bills (Oppose all!)

1. HB 168 HAS BEEN TABLED in House Business and Labor Committee
   • Please THANK THE COMMITTEE!
   • Talking points: 
     • THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH MT WORKERS!
2. SB 89 is stuck between committee and the full Senate Floor
   • Please contact your Senator and ask them to SCHEDULE THE BILL ON 2ND READING AND VOTE NO!
   • Talking points here
3. HB 251 is stuck in House Business and Labor Committee
   • Please ask the committee to HOLD A VOTE AND TABLE THE BILL.
   • Talking points here
4. SB 228 had a hearing in Senate State Administration Wed. 2/24
   • Please ask the committee to TABLE THE BILL!
   • Talking points here
5. HB 461 has a hearing in House Business and Labor Fri 2/26
   • Please ask the committee to TABLE THE BILL!
   • Talking points:
     • This is "Right to Work" for healthcare providers (nurses) at non-profit institutions.
     • Why target them, especially NOW?

Attacks on Public Education (Oppose all!)

1. HB 129 is stuck in Senate Taxation Committee
2. Please ask the committee to TABLE THE BILL!
3. HB 129 allows for 529 Education Savings accounts to be used for private, religious, and homeschool expenses--the school doesn't need to be accredited, have an elected board, or located in Montana.  This is an expansion of the federal law and will put all 529 accounts at risk in MT

     2. HB 279 is stuck in House Education Committee

• Please ask the committee to TABLE THE BILL!
• HB 279 gives a tax credit to anyone who contributes to a student scholarship organization (SSO). SSO's fund private, religious institutions. HB279 defunds public education by siphoning off public funding that should be going to public purposes. The schools who receive the SSO money do not have to be accredited, have an elected board, or be located in Montana.  See fiscal note here.

     3. HB 329 is on it's way to a vote in the full HOUSE of Representatives.

• Please contact your Representative and ask them to VOTE NO!
• HB 329 will force public schools to send a portion of their funding to OPI, who will then send the public money to any private entity (corporation, private school, religious school, etc.) for any IEP or 504 student who chooses to seek services outside their school. It is an unconstitutional appropriation of public funding for private purposes (Article 5, section 11).  See the legal review note and fiscal note.

     4. Funding for mental health services has not been included in the budget.

• Please contact the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Claims committees and ask them to FUND CSCT SERVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
• This legislature needs to approve funding for CSCT (mental health) services in schools until the Federal/State plan kicks in in a few months. Students mental health should be a priority now more than ever.  Students should not have to suffer while we wait for federal aid to come.  Fund the bridge!

State Employee Pay Plan (support)

• HB 13 is stuck in Senate Finance and Claims committee
• Please contact the committee and as them to PASS THE BILL!
• HB 13 is a fair deal negotiated with the governor and passed by the House.  The Governor supports it. Public employees have shown up do deliver essential services to MT every single day during this year-long pandemic.  

 Pensions

• SB 188 is in Senate Education
• Please contact the committee and ask them to TABLE THE BILL!
• SB 188 extends the number of years that retired teachers can return to work when districts can't find a certified teacher to fill a position. This compromises the stability of the Teachers Retirement System (TRS).

Defund Public Services

• HB 303, SB 159 and SB 182 have all passed out of their committees and are up for votes in the full Senate
• Please call your local Senator and ask them to VOTE NO!
• These bills will reduce revenues to support vital public services like public safety, public education, higher education, and more.  Over time, these bills will lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in reductions.  
• Don't Brownback our state! We don't want to look like Kansas!

Voting Rights

• HB 176 is up for a vote in the full Senate
• HB 176 eliminates same day voter registration, preventing thousands of Montanans from voting.
• Same-day voter registration was approved by Montana voters on the general election ballot, and legislators shouldn't overturn the will of the people.
• Montana's Constitution guarantees free and fair elections and prevents interference in the free exercise of our right to vote.

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