[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6308969,"mediaKeyId","2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480","parentId",2415685,"title","Bill to expand prison vocational construction work draws mixed reaction from unions and DOC","audioSeconds",2860,"startMs",3420000,"endMs",6280000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480&start=3420&end=6280","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480/thumbnail_3420000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6308969/Montana/Bill-to-expand-prison-vocational-construction-work-draws-mixed-reaction-from-unions-and-DOC","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308969-850b824a4e5df662a91615f8aa403905/orig.mp4?Expires=1773509035&Signature=n88g6g836AJa9ptItLndbXptP1MbEKd536MrxpDbwtuJ1Ts4IWQ5xRwm8VIg0vKvOLIW8qHAUBOqJf~JcHIhfw7UXq-gS6npNYNqvdWk1QLiPKFoiEWvwHq9VS96ZmwFGVstY-fZzqzak5dDseoRSwal0ZFDLDwYNTEb4SHZu4S9hewcGlhqwo-yc9bJY1t-lRZbl5M0DUgJ8nhH4iI0GwrVZ766qjEYTWatgMHrXRnn1ludkF08RuIl0T80wo3OS6NXfG20Puf8pEQcUU92O8KAt7da-I8~E7aibwP4uNhOxb-FGcIbHCHlJswtVDOvawt8w8qGn4dl5cXbkBOCRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana State Legislature","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","Representative John Fitzpatrick presented House Bill 572 at the department's request, describing changes to Montana Correctional Enterprises that would raise the construction-project threshold for inmate crews from $200,000 to $1,000,000, remove a dealer network requirement for some sales and broaden language to allow more tailored vocational and educational programming.

Fitzpatrick said the goal is vocational training that matches private‑sector demand and leaves the prison's work focused on prefabrication or other tasks that would not directly compete with local contractors: “The bill and its changes are not seeking to build a construction program that's going to be competing with private sector enterprises,” he said.

Scott Eichner, rehabilitation chief at the Department of Corrections, and Natalie Smith, the department CFO, appeared in support and described conceptual plans for pre‑apprenticeship models run on prison grounds. Eichner said some existing contracts (for example, assembly work for a company called Under Canvas) show how industry partnerships can provide a training pipeline when paired with community apprenticeship programs.

Several labor union witnesses urged caution. Jay Reardon (Mon [union]) and Al Ekblad (Operating Engineers Local 400) said the bill as drafted lacks sideboards to prevent prison work from competing with private contractors and could create unintended consequences if project scope expands. Reardon warned that the bill's language does not restrict projects to on‑site, training‑only work and that the cap increase could be used repeatedly to expand outside work. Operating Engineers asked for explicit pathways from prison training into registered apprenticeship programs before supporting the bill.

Mae Simmons, testifying as a proponent with equity concerns, said the bill as written appears to leave out women incarcerated in other facilities and asked the committee to consider how programming would reach women and contract facilities.

Committee members questioned how the enterprise fund model would cover start‑up materials and staffing; Eichner said Montana Correctional Enterprises is an enterprise fund that reinvests sales revenue into materials and equipment and that some industry‑partner programs pay prevailing wage when required. Members also asked whether programs would require inmates to leave secure grounds; Eichner said planned construction/training work would take place on prison property and that inmates would not be used to perform off‑site construction.

No committee vote was taken. Legislators and witnesses discussed possible amendments to tighten language, add explicit training and apprenticeship pathways, and clarify whether and how women's facilities would be included.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Feb 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 572 would let Montana Correctional Enterprises undertake larger construction projects and expand vocational programming at Montana State Prison; DOC officials framed the change as a way to create pre‑apprenticeship training tied to industry demand, while unions urged sideboards to prevent competition with private contractors.","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},6308974,"Lawmakers hear bill to fund sixth-grade career and technical education at higher rate",1160,1898000,3058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480&start=1898&end=3058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480/thumbnail_1898000.jpg","/articles/6308974/Montana/Lawmakers-hear-bill-to-fund-sixth-grade-career-and-technical-education-at-higher-rate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308974-094f06dd81ea71c84a6c58baf36c2531/orig.mp4?Expires=1773509035&Signature=NQEGEgp5G2tfx~~mhfYlqYzzKFZV7hCSyrxdu~flVBFnLACt0qlf8P-nG5dD7yFh9OB0EpdeF6qcwBgNSGItWdbvy1zr9q-8Ka4OIiQJshtMGUHv~rW6mQNZPummeI3f1aLdXF-GQAu1TdSjDdD0r833X7mO9Jo-mzlM4cB56wI7hA6byI-BLM4AcwqhgC6X9HAgabFRs9KIYvo-c2abn8sDh6nZTyeerPTsSKO2H-taddNtasqI8haM12Ue9jcKXdg9-Dy~qvfmipXw9KaD3sw-aeUkHFW~3P2Pe5e9tuSRX7hzCQ4diqeS7kzc3onXUUCUnBp8OeQTQJAtDgmfvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Melissa Romano introduced a proposal to fund sixth-grade students at the same higher per‑pupil rate used for seventh and eighth graders to incentivize expansion of career and technical education (CTE) offerings beginning in middle school. Romano described her analysis of the bill's fiscal note and said a drafting error caused the fiscal office to use a 2024 figure instead of 2026 for a key rate, producing an overstated cost in her view: \"On page 6 of the bill ... it says a maximum rate of 7,405 for fiscal year 20 24. And that's where, that's where the mistake happened. So the 2024 should say 2026.\"

School administrators and K–12 organizations generally supported the policy goal but asked the committee to consider implementation timing. Rob Watson of School Administrators in Montana told the committee the fiscal note assumes 98% of sixth graders attend accredited middle schools and that the note therefore assumes most sixth graders can immediately receive expanded course offerings. Watson said that while many districts are ready, others keep sixth graders in elementary self-contained classrooms and would need staffing, facility changes or time to offer new CTE sections.

Kim Popham of the Montana Federation of Public Employees and Lance Melton of the Montana School Boards Association testified in support, saying higher funding could help districts expand expensive programs, update curricula and reduce class sizes. Watson and Melton suggested a possible delayed effective date to give districts time to staff and reconfigure schedules; the sponsor said she would consider such an amendment.

Representative Romano emphasized the bill's goal of improving retention and career readiness, noting research she cited that reported a positive return on investment for CTE. The hearing closed after proponents spoke; no committee vote was taken.","Representative Melissa Romano proposed funding sixth graders at a higher per‑pupil rate to expand middle‑school CTE offerings; supporters said the bill would incentivize districts while school officials urged adjustments to fiscal-note assumptions about how many sixth graders could immediately access expanded courses.",{"_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},6308978,"Committee hears House Bill 337 proposing broad income tax rate changes",1469,378000,1847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480&start=378&end=1847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480/thumbnail_378000.jpg","/articles/6308978/Montana/Committee-hears-House-Bill-337-proposing-broad-income-tax-rate-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308978-7a97a838d1ec8ad3acf171ed2da12b4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773509035&Signature=R7FzZ7WhyN5wQGVmxEwGxfZrMXzB5wJDEc98toZjVIzskpkv-WIp9f3SbE6Vbu494tCdI9A-uBcogb8H98Pj4rZX3wISwxu4TSNOs87W19ITtBSd~CjMK03Vyv2~ARX-PsXh5S6SdxekVqw-taRJXH~u~kd9q87VgXWg-~aVlP8tasdnFRKKCzNNgOpevp6DpDeVYSSuKPaKw6SIZvD-zkAIdM7qRwkY-et9j80dxIGQiwQoHEIEEUdmDYY4unFTtN6bTQiqv6zCp2sRT6Za5frXBToRC~dt6UKQ0sKYz5KZHqrgypr6Ubmslf-AIyobK08djUn5u231BCoLYeyvGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Brandon Lerer, the bill sponsor, introduced House Bill 337 as an income tax reduction plan, saying, “This bill is an income tax reduction bill.” The measure would lower the top marginal rate and raise the bottom rate while expanding the top-of-bracket deduction over a two-year period, the sponsor told the committee.

The bill drew immediate organized support from the Taxpayers Association. Bob Storymon of the Taxpayers Association said the proposal is a different approach from prior cuts and “we support the bill,” while noting the fiscal note could be adjusted to match any funding level the Legislature prefers.

Opponents concentrated on the bill's fiscal impacts and distribution of benefits. Rose Bender of the Montana Budget and Policy Center urged the committee to reject the fiscal note, testifying the plan would send a disproportionate share of benefits to high-income Montanans. Citing an Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy analysis, Bender said that \"66 percent of the tax cuts ... will go to the richest 20 percent\" and that \"the wealthiest 1 percent will get over $6,000 on average in annual\" tax cuts while households near the median would receive roughly \"$235\" a year. Margie McDonald of Big Sky 55+ and Adam Jespersen of the Montana Nonprofit Association also testified in opposition to the fiscal note, warning the revenue loss could reduce future funding for services older adults and community nonprofits rely on.

Dylan Saarb of Catalyst Montana said the bill '2does not benefit low-income Montanans by and large'2 and recommended investing in services such as affordable housing and mental health rather than that scale of tax reductions.

Department of Revenue staff Finn McMichael and Jake Ford appeared as informational witnesses and answered technical questions from legislators about the fiscal note, inflation indexing and capital gains language. Committee members pressed technical and distribution questions: Representative Crow asked whether changes to the bill affected the statute for net long-term capital gains (15-32-103), and revenue staff explained a drafting change removed language describing an inflation factor and that it would need to be added back to avoid ambiguity.

Several members asked about the fiscal-note assumptions and distribution by income. Witnesses and proponents pointed the committee to handouts and analyses that break the state's taxpayers into quintiles and deciles and show both who pays and who would benefit. Committee members also asked for additional detail about how many households in the lowest quintile currently have no state income tax liability, and several witnesses said they would provide follow-up data.

The hearing closed without a committee vote. Committee members discussed the fiscal risk of a large, sustained revenue reduction and asked for an amended fiscal note to reflect bill changes already made on the floor and in committee.","A bill that would lower Montana's top individual income tax rate while raising lower brackets drew support from taxpayer groups and sharp opposition from budget, nonprofit and senior advocates who warned of large, sustained revenue losses concentrated at the top.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6308964,"Committee cuts governor's emergency fund increase and passes bill 20-3",271,6503000,6774000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480&start=6503&end=6774","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2415685-b7cd3485287386df73e757fb31c3c480/thumbnail_6503000.jpg","/articles/6308964/Montana/Committee-cuts-governors-emergency-fund-increase-and-passes-bill-20-3","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6308964-228c672d61dee6289c16f325a58b9880/orig.mp4?Expires=1773509035&Signature=eGbJWpCUMYQpPb-A50uus~mglei1sBCo4PH7bDEQwV0iZFJ8hEZcAL0z-KyWbNuYUj3hvbBgDRYTZanmO~YFR6b4t-PbpHSWNqlaXOa7sQccilkLGVWButR0rJepn4zxLi3U~A4qzk0iOsldIjZDt6rW2F9-0RxiivV2aP3BwIEhFO5aCZfnsgucG2Zmq44aJl3mmhN8YsKDna3SIY4n7AvRRLWh79HqdX9vb2bFOEmHdBF~TCMGkbAVqPlw2-McKuz~nh~ILRytb86f9g8HsqO4c~xRky4qyDkHiZMy4Gpqvsn0maUiRwrhDUux2qZ1Vk-g4d4gfhhgLH5OSgcnyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee considered House Bill 334, which would change the statutory amount available in the governor's emergency fund for response and preparedness. Representative Barker sponsored the bill; Representative Mercer offered a conceptual amendment that reduced a figure in the bill from $3,000,000 to $2,000,000 in each year and adjusted corresponding statutory lines.

The amendment was described as friendly by the sponsor and was accepted for conceptual consideration. After brief discussion, the committee approved the conceptual amendment by voice vote and proceeded to a roll-call on the bill as conceptually amended. The clerk read a roll-call showing the following recorded votes (yes/no): Vice Chair Beatty: yes; Vice Chair Mercer: yes; Vice Chair Cafaro: yes; Representative Fox: yes; Representative Gillette: no; Representative Hawk: yes; Representative Keogh: yes; Representative Matthews: yes; Representative Muskevich: yes; Representative Nave: yes; Representative Powers: yes; Representative Rosenzweig: yes; Representative Schillinger: no; Representative Tuss: yes; Representative Vinton: yes; Representative Walsh: yes (by proxy); Chair Jones: yes. The clerk reported the final tally as 20 yes, 3 no, and the motion to do pass was recorded as passing.

The committee moved the bill forward as once conceptually amended. No further floor text or amendments were recorded in this hearing.","The committee voted to conceptually amend House Bill 334 to reduce a proposed increase to the governor's emergency fund and then passed the bill by roll call, 20 in favor and 3 opposed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill to expand prison vocational construction work draws mixed reaction from unions and DOC

Lawmakers hear bill to fund sixth-grade career and technical education at higher rate

Committee hears House Bill 337 proposing broad income tax rate changes

Committee cuts governor's emergency fund increase and passes bill 20-3