[{"_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",6277120,"mediaKeyId","2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b","parentId",2657753,"title","Senate committee recommends concurrence on HB 3, supplemental appropriations for FY2025","audioSeconds",518,"startMs",739000,"endMs",1257000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b&start=739&end=1257","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b/thumbnail_739000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6277120/Montana/Senate-committee-recommends-concurrence-on-HB-3-supplemental-appropriations-for-FY2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277120-f32d48ecca546aa3f51bbcaea09d82d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448590&Signature=l5xAuIvpHmCKhAKD5hJ2ByVQPPnNQ89zKtMyem-eVjH7~x-h5O-aIioFIM2g4V16K~WPYXuqnD99W1iy6h~UU09AbHMSHW-4LwmlKJrtkHSOBbgGMUvOgKdkwJdTv6dBML-S6qHKzvw7uAjFDCQHMN2MHcj3NVofzs0xb9CkA0KOma75oEsFYcOiQV7xm1WFpCC9LDJ-KM-vOJ6cMmSrfj3O8oFSIRdQUJOSzEnDC3UfOVNis2~RClqeWs~ifyl0r7Ci~bts9F5Ehs9L-Vr6qUBZ6MZA7hM~FshUvHRe~MZN0SBkFMUqVbw2cO5w1vG2R86z6Fac~3CIZoHUzHU8rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-14T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 3, a supplemental appropriation measure to cover estimated shortfalls in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, won a committee recommendation for concurrence after lawmakers questioned large agency increases.

Senator Kaczmeier, the bill carrier, told the panel that HB 3 \"provide[s] funding for unanticipated costs necessary to complete the fiscal year 2025,\" and described it as the routine annual supplemental request.

The bill drew questions about specific line items. Senator Ellis asked for explanations of large amounts, noting on the record that \"public health and human services, that's at over $27,000,000,\" and that the Department of Justice and Department of Corrections had significant increases. Kaczmeier said the health-and-human-services shortfall stems largely from reliance on contracted clinical staff to operate 24/7; the Department of Justice increases include retirement- and legal-services related costs; and corrections costs reflect higher per-diem costs, including out‑of‑state bed costs.

Senator Usher objected to the scale of the request, saying, \"this is $70,000,000, and I'm not satisfied with the answers that were given,\" and asked for more explanation before supporting the package. Other senators pressed for detail on multiple specific lines, including a state-auditor reinsurance increase and smaller district-level education distributions noted in the fiscal note.

Senator Kaczmeier moved that the committee recommend concurrence in HB 3. The transcript records the committee vote as a voice vote with the clerk noting, \"Senators vote aye. And 24 senators vote nay.\" The committee reported that House Bill 3 be concurred in; the Senate later adopted the committee report on the floor.

The bill text appropriates unspecified totals to multiple agencies for FY2025; the fiscal note and line-item descriptions were the principal focus of committee questioning. No roll-call vote listing individual senators was recorded in the transcript excerpt for the committee motion.

For readers tracking next steps: HB 3 was reported out of the committee of the whole and placed on the Senate calendar for further action as part of the concurrent process between chambers.

Ending: The committee endorsement moves HB 3 forward to the full Senate for final consideration and any subsequent enrollment steps between the two chambers.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Floor Session Friday, Mar 14, 2025 17:04 - 17:57","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 3, a supplemental appropriation measure to cover estimated shortfalls in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, won a committee recommendation for concurrence after lawmakers questioned large agency increases.","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},6277105,"Senate concurs to HB 81, moving Veterans Affairs supervision to the adjutant general; committee vote 36‑14",211,2570000,2781000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b&start=2570&end=2781","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b/thumbnail_2570000.jpg","/articles/6277105/Montana/Senate-concurs-to-HB-81-moving-Veterans-Affairs-supervision-to-the-adjutant-general-committee-vote-3614","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277105-f48757ccd759b30a023e5fe28f6c865b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448590&Signature=KiUFKndM7skHX988uOlmzfiH2eaIfLAoM~UfrL~2gtp6E1hbcVTNfrOhdLgB-z8FDxAGZ2QPF99omzPBt3vPDpQtk2D5h9MLBzxbTr7dMNYLQ1-WB-IzNSTqHV--gCy-q6zemyf9V6gYN4qB9qcl5Ut-5-fJVonwaF53G~ZSsO6lcREVbDrRdpRvf-heZty6xjGoK5qHwoT5ZZFsEiNM5EcBvIpMWkVuoknp6Vk6Kl0RYXMT~ijN7ekEpJYsmuY0tGvolcoWshEBy0SbanoHuDO5MQ9yTjqC2famWDBGhcPeE36ABbKlUa5FUESk353~mQsNrU3hqMuczBV3PGMAPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 81 would change the supervisory chain for the Veterans Affairs Division administrator by moving supervision from the Board of Veterans Affairs to the Adjutant General in the Department of Military Affairs.

Senator McKinney, carrying the bill, said it was a simple, administrative measure requested by the Department of Military Affairs and that it passed the State Administration Committee 9‑0 before arriving in the committee of the whole. He told the panel the change is intended to provide more direct oversight and \"direct access and direct responsibility to the head instead of putting it to a secondary and then having to go to the head,\" and that no additional funding is required.

Senator Vinton asked whether the adjutant general was the same official who had opposed a prior bill; McKinney answered in the affirmative. Senator Noland asked why the change was needed; McKinney explained it was an efficiency measure and that the department could make the change within existing funds.

Senator McCamey moved that the committee recommend concurrence in HB 81. The committee recorded a vote of 36 senators aye and 14 senators nay; the committee recommended the bill be concurred in and forwarded it to the Senate floor.

Ending: With the committee's recommendation, HB 81 moves to the floor for further action as part of the concurrent review between the two chambers.","House Bill 81, which would move supervision of the Veterans Affairs Division administrator from the Board of Veterans Affairs to the adjutant general, cleared the committee with a 36‑14 vote after lawmakers described the change as an efficiency measure requested by the Department of Military Affairs.",{"_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},6277110,"Committee backs SB 393 to fund reimbursements tied to felony jurisdiction on Flathead Reservation",458,2071000,2529000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b&start=2071&end=2529","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b/thumbnail_2071000.jpg","/articles/6277110/Montana/Committee-backs-SB-393-to-fund-reimbursements-tied-to-felony-jurisdiction-on-Flathead-Reservation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277110-6b055e9c3c0f7ed1bfa9e13e67e9aac5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448590&Signature=bbWSlrMGbDS-twjm3DEU9p5bsXyFwZOPv9Wr~5Y3ILAhd~sRVH8XbIV4ezlLUIEct7DdBDWjh-7AD~qLc3-1mk6YfY2MO-J4uYiUumbuloEasQRucfyem3RQ9~ZlmXRaqXsWIx37JB3RO7k5lOEjMeDknX8aNYqKwYR8vnQSWJfLgSkmJ3dPtmdI1Jl0PWRSzoArejKyu9Y~~CcB-zUuqF8A9XpBx69psraPKV867mcY72Qx7KMLine3jWgbVQ5i7F6jSfzofcMt8VUCn5-Lc5nYZlPRcCwdS66cTASo7yhxpxZ5gzCBPE6hfL3dV4dYXC-xwZfLv9MI45MCTjiAVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 393, carried by Senator Hertz, would provide funding authority for reimbursements related to felony criminal jurisdiction on the Flathead Indian Reservation and drew discussion about statutory obligations and negotiations among the state, Lake County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT).

Senator Hertz told the committee that the measure implements obligations under Montana law and cited Montana Code Annotated section 2‑13‑01, which \"states the state shall provide reimbursements to Lake County for assuming criminal jurisdiction under this section annually to the extent funds are appropriated.\" Hertz said prior sessions had appropriated several million dollars, that a later appropriation was reduced, and that if Lake County and CSKT withdraw from the current cooperative arrangements, \"the state's gonna have to step into the tune of probably a hundred million dollars or more.\" He asked colleagues to \"have some faith and move this over to the house in case we need it over there.\"

Senator Windiboy raised fairness concerns for other counties and tribes, asking why Lake County would receive reimbursements while other counties and tribes with cooperative agreements would not, and pressed the committee on fiscal transparency. Windiboy said constituents and local officials had expressed frustration about perceived unequal treatment.

No amendment was offered in the excerpt. Senator Hertz moved that the committee recommend a do pass on SB 393; the committee reported the bill as do pass and forwarded it to the House for concurrence in the appropriations process.

Ending: SB 393 advances legislative consideration of reimbursements tied to criminal-jurisdiction arrangements on the Flathead Reservation and will proceed through the appropriations and intergovernmental negotiation process.","Senate Bill 393, addressing reimbursement for felony criminal jurisdiction on the Flathead Indian Reservation, received a do‑pass recommendation after sponsors and other senators described statutory history and ongoing negotiations among state, county and tribal parties.",{"_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},6277115,"Senate concurs to HB 15, applying inflationary adjustments to K‑12 funding; vote 34‑16",790,1268000,2058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b&start=1268&end=2058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2657753-66ce84899ed70c802d03670274d1829b/thumbnail_1268000.jpg","/articles/6277115/Montana/Senate-concurs-to-HB-15-applying-inflationary-adjustments-to-K12-funding-vote-3416","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6277115-9a23cdce2ba93923929290690b457bc1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448590&Signature=kF8JDBcGM12kDuSodmLIupDV9JFcjD0Ry5TT9xz0WLKdxpr-SNBgH7yN3QqSAvWv-18wRiGPA0m6Eca5RcF5dUOPK31sp~u7n7Jlva7JEiu6mkuupOIk8Z0y~GkskxBP-W9hv8m6jemxURyiYRWKa2ODmKw7CurAG7cbeR51GzcEZmaXA~CG78CubhhAM84EeH6aF~EFgmg9cEcIJNcH13-Fbknp7jk26V5OJERjbx-jthjrmWJdkLkRkZS3aRS4hwav758ef9Lr8sU3-MXUhy~aGmbSb4B12AKSqNuqup-Re4GT8Av-YtnXZCMZDzTIknRWWNQA5n7M3JSjRmiBeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 15, carried in the committee by Senator Fuller, would apply an inflationary adjustment to school‑funding formula components used to calculate K‑12 budgets.

Senator Fuller described the bill as the routine inflationary adjustment for K‑12 funding and told members that the bill \"does not appropriate funds\" but \"only defines the legislative intent to appropriate and this funding is included in the executive budget and currently appropriated in House Bill 2.\"

Debate centered on scale and permanence. Senator Kertie and other senators described rising costs such as energy and insurance that have tightened district budgets; Kertie said earlier investments in energy efficiency were undercut by sudden large increases in rates. Majority Leader McGilvray warned that the funding increase effectively becomes a new base, saying, \"I've never seen a budget go back below the base. So you can count on it. You can count on this going next year, the year after, and the year after.\" He added that future biennia could see far larger totals.

Senator Fern explained how the funding formula works, noting that the state typically pays about 65% of a district's potential budget and local levies cover the remainder, and emphasized that the adjustment gives budget authority that will affect future years. Senator Dauphin described the bill concisely as \"essentially the main K‑12 funding bill.\" Several senators stressed timeline concerns tied to the superintendent of public instruction's need to notify districts of budgets.

The committee recorded a roll-call tally of 34 senators voting aye and 16 voting nay; the committee recommended concurrence and the bill was reported to the Senate floor.

Ending: With committee concurrence, HB 15 moves forward so state education officials can finalize district budget notices and the appropriations embedded in the executive budget can be enacted through the concurrent process.","The Senate Committee of the Whole recommended concurrence on House Bill 15, which applies a 3% inflationary adjustment to components of the K‑12 school funding formula. Senators debated the permanence of the increase and its fiscal impact on state and local budgets before voting 34‑16 in committee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee recommends concurrence on HB 3, supplemental appropriations for FY2025

Senate concurs to HB 81, moving Veterans Affairs supervision to the adjutant general; committee vote 36‑14

Committee backs SB 393 to fund reimbursements tied to felony jurisdiction on Flathead Reservation

Senate concurs to HB 15, applying inflationary adjustments to K‑12 funding; vote 34‑16