[{"_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",6095576,"mediaKeyId","2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848","parentId",2837384,"title","Rep. Nicholl introduces lobbyist disclosure bill tied to federal funding sources","audioSeconds",135,"startMs",5047000,"endMs",5182000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848&start=5047&end=5182","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848/thumbnail_5047000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095576/Montana/Rep-Nicholl-introduces-lobbyist-disclosure-bill-tied-to-federal-funding-sources","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095576-b2424b49be0f732e8c2ebab15fbffc46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771045783&Signature=OwITH-VdEXqOFSwveg0RfLPqdORerN96FWtajHS~SuMZJL5gC~JIunvMhDZgEKMSw2II-ckP25SIhRiOoD0kqCy01kRLZPA-qWbQHfk1NTj37LgF8Np-KbTUj2fH~JxhXXcQtyLL4QwdJalqmdwzSU95Nb7kFlvCcEadhaJ5PCF6kerhg8biHgh0SqAQ0-8~k7xs8Nstb5w0uI3Hl2pHNOaYhHViGGqD53e7af7FyJPKlg2APvy-1FseeaSgNc~4Um8q-15uInbgHhJIn4-mZB~~B6a597VixmOUVcJlvNcLnYaYHBnW4CXTpnGuJF7GJ0Du0z2Ssj~poBohOOqeKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Nellie Nicholl introduced House Bill 938 and said the bill would require lobbyists to file a disclosure indicating whether a state or local government or a nongovernmental organization to which they provide services receives federal money, and to verify that the lobbyist’s compensation is not derived from federal funds.

Nicholl said the measure is modeled on the federal Anti‑Lobbying Act, which prohibits use of federal appropriations to influence members of Congress or federal officials. The bill text includes definitions of \"federal money\" and \"non‑governmental organization\" to delimit coverage.

During the opening explanation Nicholl said the language referencing local governments will be crossed out before floor action to reflect the sponsor’s intent to focus the requirement at the state level; the transcript ends before additional testimony or committee questions were recorded in the excerpt provided.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House State Administration - Tuesday, Apr 1, 2025 08:57 - 12:19","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Nellie Nicholl presented House Bill 938 to require lobbyists to disclose if the state or a nongovernmental organization they serve receives federal money and to verify that the lobbyist's compensation is not paid with federal funds; sponsor said the bill models the federal Anti-Lobbying Act.","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},6095581,"Committee hears bill to clarify joint campaign communications and allow out‑of‑state signatories for incidental committee reports",390,4166000,4556000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848&start=4166&end=4556","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848/thumbnail_4166000.jpg","/articles/6095581/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-clarify-joint-campaign-communications-and-allow-outofstate-signatories-for-incidental-committee-reports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095581-4c07ff3c92ee8ae60f05ad0d12e2002e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771045783&Signature=MK9CqugdzxoLMoOcxel7axEvr~32GTftpMfdsdYh~KE5xWVAirflmDMLbZzDRKrsMDkH3j5XlEGHdRPBz5qBy8ivhnJGNTpdWL9c~lugmQKdn3wmZ2gl3Mha8wtx2RihqOZh4g6uJ82bASL~ht4AA7xbcpSq5mwh7XzNeJ2y5jq8HNF5K8zzEX~Z2nLSWrX8R0O7cKGDkTPsvS9YQW11lYB9GCevDaVUZ-SNfcgjofb8dV6okpYQECTU8YPKjHo-aDctXJR~DFyW5O8hoB2B2rcogk31I8mZEknXgTNFNRqqq~V4SvNJ29hkEfvTQ80Hqj76-ofuIsyN5CJ5sEq6ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Eric Tillman introduced House Bill 917, which would make two technical changes to Montana campaign finance law: first, clarifying that if two or more candidates make a joint electioneering communication they do not form a political committee; second, allowing a person located outside Montana to sign reports for incidental committees.

Tillman said the definitional change would reduce unnecessary filing burdens when candidates jointly pay for materials such as fund-raiser invitations. He said allowing an out‑of‑state signatory would ease administrative burdens for incidental committees that are transient and sometimes based out of state.

Scott Cook, representing the Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP), testified as an informational witness and said the agency might need modest outreach and system updates to implement the change. \"There may be some technical stuff that we need to do in the campaign electronic reporting system,\" Cook said, and estimated roughly $1,000 for outreach or minor technical adjustments.

Vice Chair Cordon asked whether the out‑of‑state signature provision could allow outside actors to form committees to influence Montana elections; Cook and Tillman replied the change is intended to simplify filings for incidental committees and that out‑of‑state entities already lawfully spend on Montana elections but must report activity. Tillman said he expects a technical amendment in the Senate to harmonize new terminology across related code sections.","House Bill 917 would (1) clarify that joint electioneering communications by two or more candidates are not a political committee and (2) allow an out‑of‑state person to sign incidental committee reports; the Commissioner of Political Practices said modest outreach and technical work could cost about $1,000.",{"_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},6095586,"Bill would extend suspension cutoff for elected officials from three to four months",378,3813000,4191000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848&start=3813&end=4191","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848/thumbnail_3813000.jpg","/articles/6095586/Montana/Bill-would-extend-suspension-cutoff-for-elected-officials-from-three-to-four-months","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095586-34fbcf8c334a9447cbe6db245bfd71cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771045783&Signature=fF5A~VqbSs0qc3piMR3SMDGOqRMTAQBXeuhRLZPZgwTFrf-bXgQKAc-hS3SA9BGwoYZVRDphNYx2jwyCwauSLelIc0YhWItEyBWnTCtJ6DKEkC4JAhD-lo4GAGPzNHWfeMizOGNYA8OSFEzzoXJh~syW3Jn4BOA4pkCvaMD~BWnL8J5OtGHUzNGWIyiq~6CfrNkS7pQ01YnBuGpqz2Kw8NwPgT~wAhLDkS8d0IwqIlUhaP8AobQyEn577NsWDPOCtpOx~vWjdJjyLIy9YYBPPiCr-u0LV811VOwC~Wny4VSif95kA6G8bU~sLhwKz-ebmFTLfX0OzkN8oA6knsta6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick introduced House Bill 856 and told the House State Administration Committee the bill would extend the period after which an elected official ceases performing duties from three months to four months.

Fitzpatrick said the intent is to avoid circumstances where short-term disciplinary or court processes could disenfranchise voters by automatically removing officials from office. He noted his impetus was a newspaper account involving the attorney general and disciplinary proceedings and said four months is a more appropriate allowance for temporary absences.

Committee members asked a few technical questions and noted a minor drafting typo on page 2 that staff agreed to correct. No proponents or opponents offered testimony in person or online during the hearing excerpt recorded in the transcript. Representative Fitzpatrick said he began work on the bill about a month earlier and sought available drafting resources.","House Bill 856 would change the statutory deadline that affects when an elected official ceases to perform duties during certain suspensions, extending the cutoff from three months to four months; sponsor said change preserves voter choice when temporary suspensions occur.",{"_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},6095591,"Montana lawmakers hear broad support for interim study of federal cuts, appropriation of $215,000 proposed",3685,189000,3874000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848&start=189&end=3874","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2837384-1813473a1620f56451dfe65b9e106848/thumbnail_189000.jpg","/articles/6095591/Montana/Montana-lawmakers-hear-broad-support-for-interim-study-of-federal-cuts-appropriation-of-215000-proposed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095591-8bb7e021bc8f440cae0b74ea5ba18964/orig.mp4?Expires=1771045783&Signature=l8j6TRpyIyhkoMmhgIN3QBDNUMz2yHHhgUcGg4Jj-r1uhzhLV9pEX-Kd114R6keE7cJKi6Zv0qFwXYTS2QRW7aV5zKiNNzgFyFyY7WL9hcVtU93NDZ0ApeTmJqBUiE5LkfpXddJgVihbklSuEeI3RI0itDTy2eD9NTtY~UAvWOmewBVIXPhs6FwEGXc37XVdMEYwvMiasMeMLHM--S91nZtbwvhnfDGetmYsZQFvOalYH6EhlL7m6Ae9zeUoATfxmhuj1AmLkfeXci5EXD5eMWIeXrT8hL1vQBaq3ZhEGDeZzFOhGmW1rZhppqmRWXtTkMK-i5XKj26-cKUq7mWMiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Ed Staffman, sponsor of House Bill 879, told the House State Administration Committee on March 4 that the resolution would create an interim study through the Legislative Finance Committee to assess how recent federal budget and policy changes are affecting Montana.

Staffman said the study would produce a preliminary written report by the end of the calendar year and a final report before the next legislative session, noting \"we can either act on it or we could choose to ignore it at our peril.\" He said the bill includes a $215,000 appropriation intended to cover committee meetings and to contract for outside economic analysis if needed.

The bill drew wide support from tribal, agricultural, environmental and local-business witnesses who described immediate and potential impacts from federal workforce reductions, grant freezes and tariffs. Patrick Kawaki, testifying for the Blackfeet Scribe, Fort Belknap Indian Community and the Chippewa Cree Tribe, said cuts to Indian Health Service positions and Bureau of Indian Affairs offices were already harming tribal communities and cybersecurity protections. \"Tribal colleges are being stripped of key funding that helps keep their doors open and their lights on,\" Kawaki said.

Representatives of the Montana Farmers Union and other agricultural witnesses cited trade shifts and tariffs as a threat to Montana crops; the union noted Montana planted about 720,000 acres of lentils in 2024 with approximately $226 million in sales and that 15% of lentil sales went through USAID contracts that may be affected. Testimony also described potential construction-cost increases tied to tariffs on imported wood and gypsum and warned of downstream effects on affordable housing.

Public-land and conservation witnesses including retired Forest Service staff, Glacier 2 Medicine Alliance and the Montana Environmental Information Center said staffing and grant cuts would reduce trail maintenance, visitor services, wildfire response capacity and scientific monitoring. The Glacier 2 Medicine Alliance urged the committee to add the U.S. Geological Survey to the list of agencies reviewed to capture impacts on research and monitoring.

Legislative Fiscal Division Director Amy Carlson told the committee the division could perform much of the proposed budget-impact work with existing tools but that the appropriation would be needed to pay for contracted, detailed economic and social-impact analyses and for additional committee meetings. \"We rely on other people's economics. We don't do economics, but we kind of do applied economics,\" Carlson said, describing how the division would use outside econometric work and its baseline forecast products to assess impacts.

Committee members questioned cost estimates and overlap with other committees. Representative Cochran asked whether the Legislative Finance Division (LFD) could cover the work within its current budget; Staffman and Carlson said parts could be absorbed but that the $215,000 appropriation was a guesstimate to allow contracting and extra meetings. Representative Byrne and others clarified the study's role as information gathering and contingency planning rather than creating new state policy; Staffman said the study would give the Legislature the data to call a special session if a severe problem required legislative action.

Supporters urged a broad, nonpartisan approach. Several witnesses said the study was not about endorsing or opposing federal policy but about documenting and planning for direct impacts on state services, universities, health care, tribal programs, and local governments. Staffman closed by urging committee members to review the notebook of briefs he provided and to preserve the bill's flexibility so the Legislative Finance Committee could assign or farm out particular topics as needed.

With no opponents offering testimony in person or online, the hearing concluded and the committee moved toward executive action later in the agenda.","Representatives and more than a dozen public witnesses urged the House State Administration Committee to create an interim Legislative Finance Committee study of recent federal executive actions and funding cuts, with a $215,000 appropriation proposed to fund meetings and outside economic analysis.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rep. Nicholl introduces lobbyist disclosure bill tied to federal funding sources

Committee hears bill to clarify joint campaign communications and allow out‑of‑state signatories for incidental committee reports

Bill would extend suspension cutoff for elected officials from three to four months

Montana lawmakers hear broad support for interim study of federal cuts, appropriation of $215,000 proposed