[{"_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",6111277,"mediaKeyId","2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6","parentId",2753127,"title","Committee hears bill to restore competitive procurement for Montana Lottery contracts","audioSeconds",864,"startMs",168000,"endMs",1032000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6&start=168&end=1032","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6/thumbnail_168000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6111277/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-restore-competitive-procurement-for-Montana-Lottery-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111277-fd18c959729b75448f5f1006218d75f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776226688&Signature=S-rEArpT6MKDNs1xKLU20378ct9AJZ43U6~t3PMP8a1t4NGCeCSGNdkcfLdH5PiQbb9KOAddwVQh4hK35Nn5PYiA6zXFRr1dD17Sux4X5v5kW~mTsBza4SsHP9T7gAJz8OGFRFqhF7ONVjPTdeDM~RMy0D2kiBamtaOgGBhImZsz0zSI~W-B3a0urzl3I9zI-bOe8zI-2dtI2XpcHJVgeBcnyJtfGdnvG2eJMRGHKs0iOX8GBk-6Xlpn1HC~juXoJLIgwIrZXLcqr2iWEr7StP6e3i~FdOY5Dp3BI34J2FjbHm5sMWlcxvbmrTKW~Txclz6w1EQyhB-7gZXTAh3d7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Matt Regier, sponsor of Senate Bill 232, told the House Judiciary Committee the bill would reverse a 2023 floor amendment that he said created a broad exemption for the Montana Lottery from the Montana Procurement Act. \"That exempted lottery by itself does not have to go out for bid for its contracts,\" Regier said, adding, \"Senate Bill 232 rewinds that last minute amendment.\"

The bill’s backers said restoring competitive solicitations will increase transparency and protect public confidence. John Metropoulos, an attorney member of the Montana Lottery Commission, said the lottery commission had voted to issue a request for proposals (RFP) but was delayed after the 2023 amendment. \"This amendment ... is a source of great mischief for the lottery commission,\" Metropoulos said, describing months of delay before the commission again voted in March to proceed with an RFP.

Representatives of businesses that place or manufacture gaming machines said an RFP process is necessary to attract qualified vendors. Shauna Helfert, representing the Gaming Industry Association, said the machines that host sports betting must be updated and that an open RFP \"ensures a fair and transparent process as well as secures the best possible products for Montanans.\" Rhonda Wiggers of the Montana Coin Machine Operators Association and John Iverson of the Montana Tavern Association also testified in support, saying vendors were surprised the Lottery might not go to RFP.

Misty Ann Giles, director of the Department of Administration (DOA), appeared as an informational witness and told the committee DOA advises state entities on procurement but did not control the lottery commission’s decision. Giles said DOA’s legal guidance recommended that, even when an exemption exists, the lottery follow procurement procedures to maintain fairness and public confidence. She also raised a drafting concern flagged by committee members: removing an existing exemption for student activity fees could unintentionally require DOA involvement in student association purchases.

Committee members questioned specific language in the bill that the sponsor said he would be willing to revisit; Representative Staffman asked about a struck exemption for student activity fees and the sponsor deferred to DOA. No formal committee action or vote was recorded in the hearing transcript.

The bill had broad industry and commission support at the hearing and drew technical questions from DOA about unintended consequences in the statutory text. The sponsor closed by appealing to bipartisan support for competitive bidding on government contracts.

The committee moved on to its next agenda item after the hearing concluded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Judiciary - Monday, Mar 24, 2025 07:59 - 11:56","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Matt Regier introduced Senate Bill 232 to reverse a 2023 amendment and require the Montana Lottery to use competitive procurement processes for certain contracts.","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},6111269,"Committee reviews cleanup to End of Watch Trust; bill clarifies catastrophic-injury rules, benefits and administration",1169,1985000,3154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6&start=1985&end=3154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6/thumbnail_1985000.jpg","/articles/6111269/Montana/Committee-reviews-cleanup-to-End-of-Watch-Trust-bill-clarifies-catastrophic-injury-rules-benefits-and-administration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111269-e72f70ad547c49f0398776e3d1e6d06b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776226688&Signature=TJkzE-ogjRkeoOFpJIUP0VImKILinnV66GK2Yorzz23pim07Z9oTKZpfuQuRvq~KaEPvGjL73Yvd3~DMZxLaxV2e07nrDkreMod4hqZcm4CFlRkGa0FeyNw2NafHMKMjUe9pULMRhWvQFL8-QaIo-N-NurbgT~DnoFp0--uKBIJ~aaNlbJk5zkhXk36M5xvnkdTS3CI0reSrQ7jU7NCFDiqk5j5iSq3FnOv7Y1eV-wW6H9VGgqFw~c0vefP8q4iZSbvtb8pRe-SvnUAheQXTqJqpVhnKANqPt7D7UmLiKeQnqtn10egrFTUKIJC6Oom1uejrXkag-aqf-11cMamOhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Barry Usher opened the hearing on the End of Watch cleanup bill (House Bill 487) as a technical follow-up to the program established last session. Usher said the original law created a trust to provide continued health-care coverage and monthly payments for spouses and children of officers killed in the line of duty or officers permanently and totally disabled by on-duty catastrophic injuries.

Supporters framed the bill as clarifying the original intent and fixing technical gaps. Shelby DeMars of the Montana Police Protective Association said the bill \"narrows and clarifies the definition of catastrophic injury\" and grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Jesse Luther of the Association of Montana Troopers and other law‑enforcement representatives said the changes define that payments total 60 monthly payments and prevent multiplicative claims (for example, a second 60‑month period upon a beneficiary’s later death).

Witnesses described the trust’s structure: the Legislature placed $10 million into the fund last session and the program is designed to operate off unobligated interest and earnings, protecting the $10 million principal. The bill would also clarify the trust’s use of interest, allow DOJ to be reimbursed for administrative costs up to a specified percentage, and preserve a four‑month continuation of healthcare coverage the trust provides.

Committee members asked technical questions about whether DOJ or the Board of Investments should accept donations and about the administrative fee cap in the amendments. Senator Usher and DOJ witnesses explained the $10 million sits in a board‑managed trust and that an appropriation structure makes a smaller sum available to DOJ for administration; witnesses said the draft amendment includes a cap \"not to exceed 15%\" for reimbursement but that DOJ’s actual base appropriation to administer the program is substantially smaller (witnesses noted an appropriation of about $800,000 was part of the program budgetary design).

Opponents did not appear in force; the hearing included extensive proponent testimony from law-enforcement organizations and DOJ staff. The sponsor described the bill as a targeted cleanup needed to make the trust sustainable and asked committee members to support passage. No final committee votes are recorded in the transcript.","House Bill 487 would revise and clarify provisions of the End of Watch Trust created last session to define catastrophic injury, payment length and administrative authorities.",{"_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},6111273,"Committee hears bill to extend 1% longevity pay to county detention officers",883,1040000,1923000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6&start=1040&end=1923","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6/thumbnail_1040000.jpg","/articles/6111273/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-extend-1-longevity-pay-to-county-detention-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111273-d6c577fe030d759946288e3c3f1e4aa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776226688&Signature=eUsK57SVvJSRTknpTW6PfLPL8Cvvn~O1qYi7rSTVGMp2LMU3jTVdZnBLijmhX52A~cbffdziXlsMwUNvY0wSKLWdfaxWG-DiST3iWS9rRy6XiuxRb-VmVUTsB4dfiaODbhT9i4XHWmmTwN0PCSNktPbM29n7-EMkTRZhlYvnVPnzDsvXP8-~0DtlzVIxV8jXXUGsI8nrFW9T83ljcn1XHinOjRGyyqiIJBaGBg2KdzjrCppZwvVuqRxMx-k~vE-3iCVKa6t09e77K1eDSU-2PaGaEiffT9M~X8ojEIUI6KPgT4rlNofqAJDl-SNx76WDIRJGwxLpj-xciyiWL2dTYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A sponsor opened Senate Bill 236 by describing detention officers’ daily duties and arguing the employees deserve parity with sworn law-enforcement deputies. The sponsor said detention officers \"face similar challenges, dangers, and stresses\" and urged the committee to \"go green.\"

Nannette Gilbertson, representing the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (MSPOA), told the committee there are 37 detention facilities in Montana, from four-bed county jails to Yellowstone County’s facility with daily populations that can approach 600. She cited Montana law — as currently written for deputies — that provides a 1% annual longevity increase and urged extension of that same benefit to detention officers. \"The original intent of the 1% longevity was to encourage officers to stay in the profession,\" Gilbertson said.

Scott Van Dyken, undersheriff for the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and MSPOA board member, said his jail is authorized for about 90 detention officers but currently is short roughly 25% of positions. He testified that adding longevity pay helped recruitment where his county included it in bargaining and that some smaller counties have left positions unfilled for long periods. \"The average detention officer probably works approximately 2 years,\" Van Dyken said, and longevity payments can help reduce turnover.

An online witness, John Marshall, spoke in support; a detention officer who identified themselves as Rebecca Guerra described starting pay of about $19.01 per hour from an MSPOA salary survey and urged passage to improve retention and safety.

Committee members asked about the fiscal effect on counties. The sponsor and witnesses said the fiscal note showed no state cost but that counties that do not currently provide longevity would see a cost. Jason Riddle of the Montana Association of Counties (MAKO) described the opposition as \"soft\" and said the cost is concentrated in smaller counties that lack collective bargaining agreements; he said most stakeholders agreed passage was appropriate.

The sponsor closed by noting larger counties already include longevity in contracts, stakeholders discussed an amendment to narrow impact, and he asked committee members to support the bill. No formal committee vote is recorded in the transcript.

","Senate Bill 236 would extend a 1% annual longevity pay to county detention officers, aligning their benefit with deputies’ longevity under current law.",{"_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},6111264,"Bar groups oppose bill to limit disciplinary referrals for elected attorneys",256,3250000,3506000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6&start=3250&end=3506","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753127-bc03fb632b9844875fd24702c3f714c6/thumbnail_3250000.jpg","/articles/6111264/Montana/Bar-groups-oppose-bill-to-limit-disciplinary-referrals-for-elected-attorneys","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6111264-53cf6b142e68774444d711c35379a5f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776226688&Signature=bLIWC7tr-vMBBE55vhrGnM4dS-~1GNPGPO9IMst4R2Pq6HLlwkWOfvex0yrPj417G9OXIyXKQJbB59CzBgfqWv4KZ~uiv4YsgBDhOkINUDaY9h0fE3zWJxDy~UTqOAPSJbSLzsIOBLpSTlmpWS4qckgaGxsMskAtcPB-VAEZ3IN0RYf56XTi6s~y2GWjvKqCxVWhhkn~K0YboC2i5J0eZYE6oubA4IafNCJQIKPOjf4o-bxDiF2O3xhdkkALl-ZmCfOX5Hu8hd4gvDTzOkax8omo5Xo3-UkpF84imrG-WdxhzhsRdn-S9QfDuAKJkWzQPcgC1KJg1IXBV~TizK3WJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 49, introduced in committee by Senator Barry Usher, would prevent referral to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for certain public officials who also are attorneys when the conduct occurred \"in the accordance of their duties\" as elected officers. Usher described the bill as protecting speech by constitutional officers while acting in their official capacities and said it would not apply when the official is acting in a judicial proceeding or private legal practice.

The State Bar of Montana and several individual attorneys testified in opposition. Bruce Spencer of the State Bar told the committee that \"lawyers should be ethical 100% of the time, not just when they're performing the duties of their public office,\" and argued the bill would create a public-policy problem and risk conflict with Article VII, Section 2 of the Montana Constitution, which allocates regulation of the practice of law to the Supreme Court. \"I urge you no,\" Spencer told the committee.

Other opponents said the bill would allow elected officials who are attorneys to evade professional‑responsibility oversight when acting as public officials and could open the door to abuse. Mark Mackin, an attorney in private practice, said existing constitutional protections for legislative speech already provide broad protection and that the bill looked like a political favor that would remove accountability.

Senator Usher and supporters framed the proposal as limited immunity for speech in the course of public duties by constitutionally elected officials and said it was not intended to protect private legal practice or conduct in court. Committee members questioned whether the change would create separation‑of‑powers concerns or reduce ethical oversight; the sponsor answered that banning attorneys from the legislature would be inappropriate and that the bill was intended to preserve a \"citizen legislature.\" No informational witnesses were recorded beyond public testimony, and no committee action or vote appears in the transcript.

","Senate Bill 49 would bar referrals to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for certain elected officials who are attorneys when acting within official duties; the State Bar and other opponents said the bill would grant an improper ethics waiver and likely conflict with the Montana Constitution's allocation of lawyer regulation to the Supreme Court","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to restore competitive procurement for Montana Lottery contracts

Committee reviews cleanup to End of Watch Trust; bill clarifies catastrophic-injury rules, benefits and administration

Committee hears bill to extend 1% longevity pay to county detention officers

Bar groups oppose bill to limit disciplinary referrals for elected attorneys