[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6353970,"mediaKeyId","2220783-aa109938af2f9963d8e757ece26ee0f1","parentId",2220783,"title","Senate committee advances bill to extend temporary vehicle registration from 40 to 60 days","audioSeconds",3939,"startMs",653000,"endMs",4592000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220783-aa109938af2f9963d8e757ece26ee0f1&start=653&end=4592","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220783-aa109938af2f9963d8e757ece26ee0f1/thumbnail_653000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353970/Montana/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-extend-temporary-vehicle-registration-from-40-to-60-days","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353970-3c42649773c705bb58a4cbd838a034b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200399&Signature=G~XzSu65XETOmjeXzrUrfB~XN2f5HMFD72zQCFwkWMRhQUC7FZyl0J51sBMdqaCkyLWmZ0JkczGr0sQYviNI0Rm8XLSWdh~xSYP65-I~nj2LF2L7ZhOg07GnSQRTTyYPZTeRzTOnu7pITMCyxCkdQdosdjyuwHn9Xdn9RLIGxym7QjtZwTtuPEeNMuuHg-MRHgboifpWLgfl0J85S5ZJhDvkNda4kOCCKfqeR5Ezi79ZAL74xbW3Pa1-xVyXtjpzQLwFTNAdKqIF8lnyM9pAlncMqVyBBOajNExe4QlfCIxZgByU4jnFB4kaAdmtHhcn~THO-FiiqN983sVNe-AsHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Finance and Claims on Feb. 12 advanced Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Senator Becky Beard, to extend the vehicle titling grace period and the expiration date for temporary registration permits from 40 days to 60 days.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Becky Beard (Senate District 38), told the committee the change “will provide local governments with more time to notify customers with confirmations” and would convert “40 day stickers to 60 day stickers to avoid delays in vehicle title work caused by system procedures.” She told members the estimated programming cost to change the period in the credentialing and registration system is “about $20,000,” and the fiscal note notes the trade-off could be a reduction in anticipated late fees collected from residents.

Lewis and Clark County Treasurer Amy Reeves, representing the Montana County Treasurer’s Association, endorsed the bill and added that the late fees Beard referenced are collected for both new and used vehicles. Reeves said, “This bill is going to help mostly for the new vehicles. As a new vehicle, the dealerships have 30 days to get their title work to us. So, used vehicle is over a hundred days. So you'll still be collecting some of those late fees that were mentioned.”

The Montana Auto Dealers Association’s executive vice president, Bruce Knudsen, called the bill “a simple bill, probably the simplest one I've ever seen,” and said he supported it as beneficial to Montana dealers and customers.

Informational witnesses included Eric Belford, administrator for the Motor Carrier Services Division at the Montana Department of Transportation, who said he was available to answer technical questions related to motor carrier or IRP issues, and Beth Thompson, budget supervisor for the Montana Department of Justice, who was available “if you have any questions on the fiscal note.” Thompson confirmed the $20,000 figure was the vendor quote to reprogram the system and said she would need to refer to the contract for a precise description of change-order pricing.

The committee voted in executive action to pass Senate Bill 28 out of Finance and Claims. The bill now proceeds to the next stage of the legislative process.

The bill focuses on a single, narrowly defined administrative change to timelines for title work; sponsors and proponents said it is aimed at easing administrative delays for dealerships and county motor vehicle offices.

Votes at executive action: the committee reported that the motion to pass carried by voice vote with proxies assumed as yes; a roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript.

Ending: With the committee’s approval, the bill will move forward to the next chamber stage where fiscal details and any implementation instructions will be subject to further review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance and Claims 2025-02-04","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Finance and Claims on Feb. 12 advanced Senate Bill 28, sponsored by Senator Becky Beard, to extend temporary registration and vehicle-titling grace periods from 40 to 60 days.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353961,"Committee advances bill allowing Board of Investments to retain income from workforce-housing fund for Deer Lodge employees",547,2200000,2747000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220783-aa109938af2f9963d8e757ece26ee0f1&start=2200&end=2747","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220783-aa109938af2f9963d8e757ece26ee0f1/thumbnail_2200000.jpg","/articles/6353961/Montana/Committee-advances-bill-allowing-Board-of-Investments-to-retain-income-from-workforce-housing-fund-for-Deer-Lodge-employees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353961-8bfc4c095136bccd3a7b3f0e9ccba103/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200399&Signature=Mf8ObfJnkNstHpZOHo16HIb8XspWpCt7Bwd2Dh8HOrSvqailpyaE6HooyZF5CEd24AYInV3WU~t7i0X08UcG13CMqIkG11RGUThXUG5N~owrpOG8vCByexrnvYR~TvKTyJqoJIK20ln3VVQTMZY2Ri4AuN~REQUCXAzZKDmF3nYdLdvKoDbnnRp~LPQUtRTu~mEp4QFgJfq4Ufp77QF89qejOgEjUWJPE9O-JBFwqS9qzjlVTqPlLu-0xyOUOUdF-OruQXn2b0qTg7mfhnqBvRPmPLsWiAPCaIkpzzqtIJ2jBoX5t~0dtmXx2aVRdkjkGQXfbEGIilB23xUfYFIX4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 223, introduced by Senator John Esp (Senate District 209), would allow the Board of Investments to retain interest and other income on a $12 million workforce-housing fund established last session to build housing for entry-level employees at the state prison and the Montana State Hospital in Deer Lodge.

Senator Esp said the program’s units are not intended as permanent government housing but as limited leases — currently five-year leases — that provide employees a way to build equity and later use accumulated funds toward a down payment on a privately owned home. He described the bill as a correction of drafting that moved the original trust into a state special revenue fund; because state special revenue funds do not automatically retain interest, the statute needs to explicitly allow the board to keep interest and income to sustain the program.

Director Villa (Board of Investments) described the project’s development work and market analysis. He said the board surveyed starting salaries for target employees, finding “the CO level 1 average starting salary was around $50,000” and “the psych tech level 1 starting salaries that were about $39,000.” Using HUD guidance on affordable housing (no more than 30 percent of income), the board determined homes affordable to those incomes were well below current market prices in eligible counties, which made a traditional loan program infeasible. As a result, the board worked with a private developer and completed a land swap to enable the Pinprill Meadow subdivision; construction is underway with 28 units in seven-plex buildings and potential for additional seven-plexes.

Director Villa said rental income will pay operating expenses, and that accrued income and interest will be used to provide down-payment assistance to employees when they leave their lease after the five-year term. He provided a projected tentative move-in date of July 1 and said a lottery system for employee selection will open for sign-ups.

Committee members asked about administrative costs and oversight. Villa said the board charged a de minimis administrative fee for the program (an example number given was roughly $300 on the $12 million), and pointed the committee to the board’s website for floor plans, leases and further project detail. Proponents told the committee they view the program as a recruitment and retention tool that “is not permanent government housing” but a revolving resource aimed at helping employees build equity.

In executive action the committee voted to pass Senate Bill 223; the vote was recorded by voice with proxies assumed for absent members. The bill now moves on in the legislative process.

Ending: The board said the model is intended to be replicable for other state workforce needs, and the committee advanced the technical fix so the program can retain interest and income to sustain the revolving assistance model.","Senate Bill 223 would let the Board of Investments retain interest and income on a $12 million workforce-housing fund to support entry-level employees at the state prison and Montana State Hospital in Deer Lodge.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6353967,"Bill to shift children’s abuse-and-neglect work into Office of Public Defender prompts hiring and reimbursement questions",3458,967000,4425000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220783-aa109938af2f9963d8e757ece26ee0f1&start=967&end=4425","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220783-aa109938af2f9963d8e757ece26ee0f1/thumbnail_967000.jpg","/articles/6353967/Montana/Bill-to-shift-childrens-abuse-and-neglect-work-into-Office-of-Public-Defender-prompts-hiring-and-reimbursement-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353967-6569d4f756a8b2703061020839990632/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200399&Signature=Mw6qPLTHnU-8Ec8CVqY4ZSM98lc5H3RuUj8t-luNlfR-dX4FdgeYLV67LJys9K1p~WIZOrtgbTh4X2wxVomfhYw9GnwZwrVAdN3qO~PdX0~OdRz0fXaWed0Y5l5N13-FK0bNoiEeCjWqOG94HI5bK0bRCZUwFfYa3aI3t9FAB9QSGobTEeqFosqYNcVIIP~D-oB2NtZBZLLQW5q3ZoQXxMcuNpRr0nffc2Dy6PiwW9e158xhYyZW6GRVTYxMN6pc6Ay83yWzj8Pwv2gbSKhSz2zg67Yp6jcJrJvjOoxPWJa32qcXIo1XfpGPCd-5IxAU7bhl5QLryrgvigskTOThpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 151, presented in the Finance and Claims Committee, would create an organizational structure inside the Office of Public Defender (OPD) that moves work now performed by contract attorneys into a dedicated children's bureau staffed by FTEs. Sponsor testimony framed the change as a shift to more consistent, in-house representation for children and parents involved in abuse-and-neglect cases.

Senator Dennis Lens (Senate District 25), the bill sponsor, summarized the fiscal note and transition timeline: the fiscal narrative assumes 21 new FTEs at a cost of about $1,900,000 and anticipates reductions in contract payments that drive net contracting savings referenced in the fiscal note. Lens described the proposal as a conservative transition estimate and said the fiscal model expects the program to be budget-neutral by about fiscal year 2028 if the transition proceeds as estimated.

Brett Chandelson, director of the Office of State Public Defender, told the committee the primary implementation risk is hiring the specialized staff. He said, “This is the the big concern to success would be the ability to actually hire them,” and later stated, “I think we can anticipate at least 12 placed in this in the next biennium if we prioritize that.” Chandelson explained recruitment will likely be a mix of moving experienced attorneys into the agency and hiring and training new attorneys; he also clarified the 21 positions include 17 attorneys and 4 non-attorney staff.

Committee members raised questions about travel time and in-person contact with children and families. Senator Bollman asked whether the fiscal note accounted for travel (so-called “windshield time”); Chandelson and OPD staff explained the fiscal note assumes their House Bill 2 request and a contractor-rate adjustment to $90 an hour with a travel modifier, and that FTE travel is usually covered as part of salary and marginal travel expenses whereas contractors are billed hourly plus travel. Chandelson said FTE staffing would be distributed across the state based on operational needs, drawing on the existing Family Defense Bureau model that already places OPD employees in multiple locations.

Committee members also questioned the program’s dependence on federal Title IV-E reimbursement. Chandelson explained OPD receives Title IV-E reimbursements via the Department of Health and Human Services and that both FTE and contract expenditures are subject to IV-E reimbursement at slightly different rates. He said a dedicated bureau can increase the percentage of operating costs recaptured via IV-E because of the bureau’s focused mission, but also noted that if IV-E reimbursements were to change or be unavailable, both contract and FTE sides would be affected.

In executive action, the committee took a roll-call vote on the bill and did not pass it at that time. The recorded roll-call vote in the transcript showed more committee members opposed than in favor during the attempted passage; committee leadership then moved to reverse the vote and table the bill for further consideration.

The discussion focused narrowly on fiscal feasibility, hiring timelines and geographic service delivery; no statutory language changes were adopted in committee during the hearing.","Senate Bill 151 would create a children's bureau inside the Office of Public Defender and move contract abuse-and-neglect cases to state-employed attorneys; the committee questioned hiring timelines, travel costs and federal reimbursement assumptions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances bill to extend temporary vehicle registration from 40 to 60 days

Committee advances bill allowing Board of Investments to retain income from workforce-housing fund for Deer Lodge employees

Bill to shift children’s abuse-and-neglect work into Office of Public Defender prompts hiring and reimbursement questions