MFPE 2019 Legislative Priorities (as of 2.25.19)

Update:  Three bad bills were tabled on Feb. 25 in committee:  HB396. SBs 297 amd 298. (See Victories below.)

Offense (Bills we support)
 
k-12

• HB 211 (Jones) – Funds quality education loan repayment.  Passed House.  Transmitted to Senate.  Referred to Senate Education.
• HB 225 (Schreiner) – Funds governor’s prek proposal.  Heard House Education.
• HB 351 (McKamey) – Provides incentives for school districts to implement “transformational” learning.  Passed House Education – 2d Reading House 2/26.
• HB 387 (Jones) – Expands personalized opportunities for students to accelerate career and college readiness.  Passed House Education – Passed 2d Reading House – Re-referred to House Appropriations – Hearing 2/26.

 
State and University

• HB 339 (Moore) – Creates and funds loan repayment for Child Protective Specialists.  Heard House State Administration.
• SB 152 (Barrett) – Makes 6-mill MUS levy permanent.  Passed Senate - Transmitted to House – Referred to House Tax .

 
Miscellaneous

• HB 425 (Caferro) – Revises and makes permanent Medicaid Expansion.  Hearing House Human Services 3/16.
• HB 477 (Funk) – Enacts child access to guns, prevention and education laws.  Hearing House Judiciary 3/12.

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Defense (Bills we oppose)

• HB 325 (M. Regier) – Repeals a local government’s power to regulate the carrying of concealed weapons and authorizes a person with a concealed weapon permit to carry anywhere, including in public schools.  Passed House - Transmitted to Senate –

Referred to Senate Judiciary.

• HB 357 (M. Regier) – Legislative Referendum – same intent as HB 325 but not subject to a gubernatorial veto.  Passed House – Transmitted to Senate – Referred to Senate Judiciary.

• SB 139 (Lang) - Incentive for premature teacher retirement to reward double-dipping at expense of TRS.  Passed Senate - Transmitted to House – Referred to House Education.
• SB 234 (Fitzpatrick) – Steps toward privatization of Montana State Fund.   Passed Senate – Transmitted to House
• SB 304 (R. Webb) – Authorizes legislators to conceal carry on state property, including the Capitol building.  Heard Senate Judiciary 2/25. 

Video - http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20190225/-1/33821 – Chilling, especially the sponsor’s closing.   
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Watch (Bills we watch)

• HB 323 (Tschida) – Codifies Janus.  Passed House – Referred to Senate Business and Labor – Hearing Cancelled.

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Victories

• HB 159 (Grubbs) - Funds k-12 schools (absent pre-k).   Passed Legislature.  On its way to the governor’s desk.
• HB 175 (Dooling) -  Ratifies union negotiated state and university employee base pay, health insurance, and per diem.  Passed Legislature.  On its way to the governor’s desk.
• HB 148 (Mandeville) – Requires super majority of the House and Senate to increase a tax or fee.  Tabled Senate Tax.
• HB 303 (DeVries) – Abolishes compulsory education.  Tabled House Education.
• HB 396 (M. Regier) – Prohibits public employees from supporting or opposing ballot issues and political candidates.  Tabled House State Administration.
• SB 297 (Brown) – Requires 50% plus vote to approve school mill levy and bond issues.   Tabled Senate Education.
• SB 298 (Brown) – Legislative Referendum – same intent as SB 297 but not subject to a gubernatorial veto.  Tabled Senate Education.

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Defeats

• HB 27 (Funk) – Inflates special education funding.  Tabled House Appropriations.
• HB 209 (Funk) – Authorizes state employee career ladders.  Tabled House Appropriations.
• SB 128 (Cohenour) – Repeals state employee longevity pay break in service penalty.  Tabled Senate State Administration.