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Missoula County hears legislative update; officials tracking bills on mRNA vaccines, reserve deputy pay and local-option tax
Summary
County legislative staff briefed commissioners on multiple state bills, reporting one mRNA-vaccine ban bill had failed and identifying other bills the county will monitor or testify on.
County legislative staff gave commissioners a briefing on several state bills the county is monitoring, including measures on mRNA vaccines, reserve deputy pay and a local-option tax proposal.
On the status of the mRNA vaccine ban, staff reported that "House bill 3 71 ... died yesterday on the floor of the house, 66-34," a development staff described as favorable from a public-health perspective. Staff said they were watching House Bill 418, which would extend an mRNA vaccine ban to animals, and planned to monitor its progress.
Legislative staff discussed House Bill 323 (described as the reserve deputy pay bill), which would allow a county compensation board to set pay for reserve deputies. Staff noted Missoula County already pays some reserve deputies under existing pay arrangements and indicated the county will likely remain neutral while asking the compensation board to adopt current county HR policies should the bill pass.
Senate Bill 277 (described in the briefing as a bill that would prevent public employers from withholding union dues at an employee's request) was listed for a hearing the next morning; staff said the county planned to testify against that bill. Staff also advised commissioners that House Bill 489, the Local Option Property Tax Relief Act (PLOPTRA), was scheduled for a hearing at 3 p.m. and would allow the county to ask voters to adopt taxes on certain tourism-related goods and services, with revenue used largely to offset property taxes.
Commissioners and attendees asked clarifying questions. One attendee, Martin, asked about taxpayer impact related to previously referenced six-mill allocations; staff replied the six mills were established earlier (since 2020) and that the current financing plan does not require a new tax increase.
No formal board action was taken on the bills during the briefing; staff said they will continue to monitor and report back as the session progresses.
