[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6624478,"mediaKeyId","2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016","parentId",2766225,"title","Committee concurs with HB 210 to add lower unemployment tax rate and authorize DMV data match for fraud detection","audioSeconds",825,"startMs",342000,"endMs",1167000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016&start=342&end=1167","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016/thumbnail_342000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6624478/Montana/Committee-concurs-with-HB-210-to-add-lower-unemployment-tax-rate-and-authorize-DMV-data-match-for-fraud-detection","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624478-6e42f1a352685dae35fef84a89934a9d/orig.mp4?Expires=1777155452&Signature=k3msxj75z58JkjYzmPDvfACb3QvFsXaG6fI5~rg4sV3Q4JYqqjPZcwagfPxYJAWO5bXVyLVIIZQuuqkfhz1x7OOFfhI9-LYVSGiDL~2XStQzBZk7qyGTE8FhKR1L6nf1-0oIzzPC39nuNcK~laOKW1aq4JOJfubwpfTugyTxz5eZY-MgAZf8Y1i1SnK2AtuMIGXNeTJSbfvA7vcLy04YoS7QEW04SqH5GKkaeHpu0waV3yM~T94yN0va~zHyc8YqJeDu7Vr8LqFwbgyeoIHyxh32hlXXwY2B6ZC8YuLyZvz2QNL3Pl-YFjeLB095TC5S5uA-EU3Cl3LK~0cUyizV9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Finance and Claims Committee on March 5 concurred with House Bill 210, a measure that would add a lower unemployment insurance tax rate for Montana employers, permit a cross‑agency, privacy‑preserving verification of claimants against motor vehicle records, and allow the unemployment program to use limited overpayments across fiscal years to fund operations.

Proponents said the change responds to an unusually strong unemployment trust and would lower employer rates while preserving the annual tax‑setting system. \"We could probably lower unemployment insurance rates for our employers without impacting the system,\" said Sarah Swanson, commissioner of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. Swanson and fiscal documents told the committee the change would create estimated employer tax savings of about $12,000,452 in the first year and more than $25,000,000 annually by 2027 if economic conditions remain strong.

The bill also authorizes a technical, \"red/green\" verification between the unemployment system and motor vehicle records to speed identity checks and reduce staff work on suspected fraudulent claims. \"There is no data being exchanged between our agencies,\" Swanson told the committee, adding the match is a pass/fail check implemented in a clean‑room process. Alex Sturhan, director of external affairs at the Montana Department of Justice, described the DOJ as a co‑participant and asked the committee to support the bill.

Officials described other, smaller provisions: a one‑time motor vehicle division cost of roughly $18,000 for the verification work and permission to use approximately $18,000 per year of overpayment collections across fiscal years to support division operations rather than immediately returning those sums to the unemployment insurance trust.

Committee members asked how the new verification would change current practice. Swanson said first‑time claimants now receive mailed fraud‑verification letters that must be returned to the agency, a process that can delay benefits; the DMV check would be a first‑step, not a prohibition, so applicants who fail the automated match could still complete the existing verification process.

At executive action the committee recorded concurrence with the House on HB 210. Senator Wendy Boyle moved concurrence; senators answered the call for the ayes and the motion carried.

What remains: the bill was concurred by Senate Finance and Claims and will proceed to the next steps in the legislative process. The Department of Labor and Industry will implement the verification in coordination with the motor vehicle division and the Department of Justice if the bill becomes law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance and Claims - Mar 25, 2025 09:00 - 13:00","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Finance and Claims Committee on March 5 concurred with House Bill 210, a measure that would add a lower unemployment insurance tax rate and authorize a privacy‑preserving verification with motor vehicle records to detect fraudulent claims.","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},6624460,"Committee approves five‑year prepaid tax exemption for residential subdivisions in SB 337 amid municipal concerns",2578,3042000,5620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016&start=3042&end=5620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016/thumbnail_3042000.jpg","/articles/6624460/Montana/Committee-approves-fiveyear-prepaid-tax-exemption-for-residential-subdivisions-in-SB-337-amid-municipal-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624460-99f97cd5c02db664badf410397c10fcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1777155452&Signature=iGlZeXqiAiFjzrtrDsg27tlJlDq1HHoqw5wA0WY1NehDPgXbtRXEUGNO1hK5scBxgmD6uSpReex6denDcHk7w54K3dK0~eoCNMFUu7eZOZwDJIEb9qIKuppyVKZmcBxWBz0qvecPqM4a5CXYMJjvG2JvcxoMpIQc5tYKIJylU~wfCJfCAKz3mK59uQrZ8pM7vP8gEmq6S9hFt7SoEat~7G1scw5sjPnWM2OJ~Qj4WXzsl5RzRFd~VN2uwf-Opw9Qju2xJaBLJ2WfZjqYzXkf0ctmK6mGIlYVt4kbo~BOgG~FzmF~tyub77Ac0cJ3jutJu555emTfeGSy-lGTjyzMJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 337, which provides a five‑year prepaid property tax exemption mechanism intended to lower carrying costs for developers during residential subdivision development, passed the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on March 5.

Sponsor Senator Greg Herts (SD 7) said the exemption is designed to lower carrying costs on lots so developers can bring housing to market faster. The bill as presented to the committee had been amended in the House to limit the exemption to residential subdivisions.

Proponents, including the Montana Association of Realtors and the Montana Building Industry Association, called the measure a modest incentive to accelerate homebuilding. Developers would prepay taxes on subdivided lots while construction proceeds; lots that achieve a habitable dwelling or reach a 95% completion threshold would lose the exemption and be fully taxed.

Several municipalities — most prominently the cities of Bozeman and Missoula — opposed the bill in committee testimony, saying a temporary exemption could create local revenue timing shortfalls for services that begin to be provided before full taxable value is realized. Bozeman's representative noted that rapid subdivision growth in Gallatin and Yellowstone counties means local governments already face service and infrastructure demands and that delaying property tax collections for up to five years could complicate municipal budgeting. Department of Revenue staff explained the fiscal note focuses on reclassification from agricultural classes (class 3 and class 10) to class 4 residential valuation when houses are built and said commercial subdivisions were not the primary driver of the fiscal estimate.

At executive action the committee passed SB 337. The sponsor said the bill targets carrying costs and incentivizes housing production, and the committee recorded passage and forwarded the bill.","Senate Bill 337, as amended to residential subdivisions, passed Senate Finance and Claims. The bill allows developers to prepay up to five years of property taxes on lots during subdivision development to reduce carrying costs; cities testified that the timing of revenue and service provision raised concerns.",{"_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},6624465,"Senate committee debates larger jury pay; SB 370 left open for amendment after fiscal questions",1544,3052000,4596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016&start=3052&end=4596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016/thumbnail_3052000.jpg","/articles/6624465/Montana/Senate-committee-debates-larger-jury-pay-SB-370-left-open-for-amendment-after-fiscal-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624465-3e12b77da5f61cca7d09bfcd671ca4d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1777155452&Signature=Vg07NZ9dBPYW37oXwyNkoDujoQGh8A5haMzbV21I-EGnz21jlqK08WididARcAr1P2V2zUSRfHqXlWEXjKa8lwXMZeQeMfK0WrGuvdLUky24ye4zaFY3lXvzdEc9gliqTWsIGR84ZN310FSGs9Jejq7Mt-oTwE4ynAFNr~3SkwNUTSbqC2jcahfa1DwaS3-c4BTIKFDRByk07PLeTG4Y1vHk-II8JnGgcQm4rsoNkfbNpBgnYxOePF8Rraxf7VN6GrOre2xvYMS5g6ZGlnisBaH862FDMPSf5zqNHg0RhG5t~fvdKmAB4VXPz-SRSZtGCPdpFMZrDMwCYIt9Jm6dYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 370, a proposal to raise juror pay, drew extended committee discussion on March 5 about scale, fiscal responsibility and whether counties or the state would bear increased costs. The committee did not take final action on SB 370 and the sponsor said he would offer an amendment.

Senator Mike Yakowich (SD 24), the sponsor, said his intent was to increase juror pay to reduce the financial burden on people called to serve. He described a range of possible increases and told the committee he would be willing to negotiate the amount; earlier floor discussion had included amounts from $12 to $60 per day and a second‑day increase. \"So it is a philosophical as well as a financial question,\" Yakowich told committee members.

Witnesses supplied two different fiscal perspectives. Kathy Penny, finance director for the judicial branch, and Dave McAlpin, court director, described a draft fiscal estimate showing a large statewide cost when county court costs were included; a more limited fiscal estimate focused on district court costs only and produced a smaller state fiscal impact (the smaller figure cited by the sponsor was about $436,000 for district courts). Committee members repeatedly asked whether the bill as drafted would shift county jury costs to the state; judicial branch staff said the bill language as drafted could make the state responsible for a larger share of jury costs.

Supporters, including tribal governments represented by Alissa Snow, urged higher juror pay to reduce barriers to service and improve representativeness of juries. Critics and several senators raised concerns that shifting county costs to state government would increase local property taxes or require counties to absorb higher costs. Judicial branch staff said implementation would likely require at least one additional FTE to process payments statewide if the legislature expanded the branch’s responsibilities.

Yakowich told the committee he planned to offer an amendment to make clear that the state would cover district court jurors’ pay while counties would continue to cover local court costs; he said he would present that amendment to the committee soon. Senate Finance and Claims deferred final action on SB 370 to allow drafting and review of an amendment and fuller fiscal analysis.","Senate Bill 370 proposed raising juror pay from current statutory levels; committee testimony revealed two fiscal estimates (district‑only vs. statewide including county costs) and members discussed an amendment to limit the state responsibility to district courts. No final committee vote was taken on SB 370.",{"_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},6624469,"Senate committee rejects Hunters and Anglers Community Fund; sponsor sought voluntary license check‑off for rural grants",1285,1813000,3098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016&start=1813&end=3098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016/thumbnail_1813000.jpg","/articles/6624469/Montana/Senate-committee-rejects-Hunters-and-Anglers-Community-Fund-sponsor-sought-voluntary-license-checkoff-for-rural-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624469-78a5210b1a7843a347f908b324df2eef/orig.mp4?Expires=1777155452&Signature=TIdlq8AGBE1XHHUT9IeHF6jOAtmR8Nig0rvHvBVpYZnZvpYk-sJsoog0onb4TEC9jbc3kTId-yT3ZOTU3T9GfdTyytTqdAsl~6CobDkaafJdKYYoE~3bzeDqXCfjWfgtJKRzcBCZNdklv59lUR~9IoXaIEsBSiQQ8nOdHpG1MSUCOFQoTjJd5ndEBdGitTWZQ0zlrorQFZSLIzDuqWmMvHQ8VuEGyKKZkV2cTLs-d0LQTjQSswA96Z8rE8sFA~jU7hDmGKbMSI-QhJW27iRtG6D0FIyW4xnkA32ml-JTqZFyrCrCy1uIzVLbHVg2F5KCn7JKSKio-FoCvYGp8w99yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 560, the Montana Hunters and Anglers Community Fund, failed to pass the Senate Finance and Claims Committee on March 5 after debate on the proposal’s design and likely effects on local budgets.

Representative Tom France, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the measure would create a voluntary check‑off on hunting and fishing conservation licenses allowing purchasers to donate to a new fund. The fund would be administered by the Department of Commerce, overseen by a seven‑member advisory board with hunters, anglers, local government and agricultural representation, and would award two types of grants: small awards up to $2,000 via a one‑page application and larger grants up to $20,000 requiring a more detailed application.

\"We'd like to set up a check off on our conservation license where hunters and fishermen buying licenses could voluntarily check off an amount that they wanted to donate to the fund,\" France said, describing local examples where private donations supported community groups.

Proponents — including the Montana Farmers Union and Montana Wildlife Federation — said the fund would provide a new, targeted revenue stream for rural communities (defined in the bill as communities under 7,500 population) and could support local food banks, meals‑on‑wheels and small civic projects. Mandy Grama, deputy director at the Department of Commerce, said the department would administer the program and the advisory board would be attached to the department.

Opponents and some committee members said the proposal needed more work on mechanics and that some municipalities were wary of additional complexity or timing mismatches with local budgets. Representative France said the bill includes a termination date (2029) and that the intent is experimental and scalable.

At executive action the committee recorded a vote of 8 in favor and 14 opposed; House Bill 560 failed to pass. Committee members later agreed without objection to reverse the immediate defeat and table the bill, per committee practice.","House Bill 560 would have created a check‑off on hunting and fishing licenses to fund small grants to rural communities. The Senate Finance and Claims Committee voted the bill down 8–14; supporters said the fund would provide modest rural grants, while opponents cited municipal revenue timing and implementation issues.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6624473,"Senate committee approves cleanup bill that taxes 'net' marijuana sales and clarifies manufacturer licensing",629,1144000,1773000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016&start=1144&end=1773","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2766225-ef2f9c30b9567b5745b2cf0bbbb44016/thumbnail_1144000.jpg","/articles/6624473/Montana/Senate-committee-approves-cleanup-bill-that-taxes-net-marijuana-sales-and-clarifies-manufacturer-licensing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6624473-475d978931ccdc1134c51028917fdb77/orig.mp4?Expires=1777155452&Signature=E6DHnkt3IxTcunbJm6zOtUpR7ycU0K8a2xs5zLRQmZlaoN6BiyVYSlpoBfDeo44UwqMmWsSN~He89GgAbQ2F1zydlJVcZXOjUvcyVPERpIfo4QtVHjtPqsuh-Co9e4U~8zWjslVVW5j4MQygCqX3EnNRhAq2Higwh4CA2NU~TnJy4CpAiSl6Bzh2es6kgd63YzEmZkY~-Ky4~w2v-cWZnG~f6BBK4B8s6oI5P~QAonmDkDXxKxQbh6wFvT50gFe6w92LIu4LIBadhD4lXXGh3bCfkc46Vl5-tMOk2~EPCpdcrJ~fwhq09NyBNR6XAmE63Slkp3~WoYxg9p6rUY7Htg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance and Claims Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 74, legislation that updates definitions used in Montana’s marijuana tax and licensing system to tax actual retail (net) sales rather than list price and to clarify the meaning of manufacturer licensing for producers that operate multiple facilities.

Senator Josh Kasmier (SD 13), who presented the bill, said the measure was largely technical and intended to align statutory language with market and regulatory practice. \"We're just redefining a couple of things,\" he told the committee, describing the bill as a cleanup measure that came out of stakeholder work during the interim.

Jennifer Hensley, representing a private testing laboratory involved in product control, described the bill as nonregulatory cleanup to align statute with implementation and laboratory accreditation practices. Fiscal witnesses told the committee the tax provision would likely lower reported collections by about 1% based on sales and discounting practices; the licensing portion of the fiscal note includes an estimated recurring cost in the low millions for administering licenses (approximately $2,225,000 per year in materials presented to the committee).

Officials from the Cannabis Control Division and the Department of Revenue appeared as informational witnesses; Cindy Backeberg, unit manager for business taxes, addressed the committee on tax impacts. Committee members asked for clarification of which fund (general fund or state special) would receive the revenue changes; witnesses said they could provide a breakdown but that marijuana revenue flows through a multi‑step allocation process before reaching the general fund in aggregate.

At executive action the committee passed SB 74. Senator Esp moved the measure and members recorded the voice vote; the motion carried and the bill was forwarded.","Senate Finance and Claims passed Senate Bill 74, a technical set of changes to marijuana tax and licensing definitions that sponsors described as cleanup and alignment of statute with practice; committees heard fiscal implications including an estimated 1% reduction in tax collections tied to taxing discounted (net) retail prices.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee concurs with HB 210 to add lower unemployment tax rate and authorize DMV data match for fraud detection

Committee approves five‑year prepaid tax exemption for residential subdivisions in SB 337 amid municipal concerns

Senate committee debates larger jury pay; SB 370 left open for amendment after fiscal questions

Senate committee rejects Hunters and Anglers Community Fund; sponsor sought voluntary license check‑off for rural grants

Senate committee approves cleanup bill that taxes 'net' marijuana sales and clarifies manufacturer licensing