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Appropriations panel passes House Bill 12 after amendments; members split on regranting and historic‑preservation requests
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Summary
House Appropriations twice amended and approved House Bill 12 on a 22–1 roll call. The committee approved an amendment that reallocated unused grants and rejected a separate amendment to regrant funds for a historic Fort Missoula building roof repair.
The Montana House Appropriations Committee approved House Bill 12, as twice amended, on a roll‑call vote of 22–1. The bill carries subcommittee F recommended appropriations and several technical adjustments to prior grants.
Representative Fitzpatrick moved the first amendment (document labeled HB0012.001.002 in committee materials), which removes a $400,000 appropriation for an Illuvium Health Project in Great Falls that the sponsor said never met startup conditions and reauthorizes about $90,000 originally appropriated to the Montana Club Cooperative to a successor entity, Rath Skeller LLC. The committee adopted that amendment by voice vote; members present voted aye.
Representative Keogh offered a second amendment that would have reallocated returned funds to a Fort Missoula structure (Saint Michael's Church) for a roof replacement, asking that $35,000 be restored. Subcommittee F had recommended against repeat grants to the same applicants and noted limited public use evidence for that particular building. Representative Keogh and supporters argued preservation was important; other members said the subcommittee standard counseled against the regrant. The amendment failed in a roll‑call vote, 10 yes and 13 no.
After amendments, Representative Jones moved to pass House Bill 12 as twice amended. The clerk recorded 22 yes votes and 1 no vote; the bill passed the committee and will be transmitted as amended.
Committee members discussed the process for handling returned appropriations and cautioned that regranting to the same applicant can be limited by subcommittee rules. The committee said it will continue to process general and revenue bills in subsequent blocks and urged members to be prepared for forthcoming transmittals.
