House State Administration advances veterans study, meal-per-diem change and campaign rules; several bills tabled

The House State Administration Committee met for a series of bill hearings and executive actions that resulted in a mix of approvals and tablings on measures ranging from veterans services to campaign finance rules.

In executive action, the committee approved bills moving responsibility for Montana’s decennial veterans long-term care needs study to the Montana Veterans Affairs Division, extended meal allowances for night-shift road construction crews, aligned state reporting on certain campaign contributors, and advanced local-marijuana ballot-language clarifications. The committee also tabled several bills for further work, including proposals that would add new disclosure duties for attorneys in civil cases and a proposal to require public hearings on proposed ballot initiatives.

The votes come after a full day of hearings in which bill sponsors, state agency representatives and outside groups provided testimony. Supporters said many…