House advances one-time $5 million senior center grant plan, refers measure to appropriations

Representative Jay Fitzpatrick, chairman of the long‑range building subcommittee, introduced House Bill 182, a proposal to create a one‑time $5,000,000 competitive grant program to fund capital construction, maintenance, repairs and equipment purchases at Montana senior citizen centers.

The bill, as Fitzpatrick described it to the House Committee of the Whole, would use surplus general‑fund dollars as a one‑time appropriation. ‘‘This bill does not create an ongoing program,’’ Fitzpatrick said, noting the appropriation is intended as ‘‘OTO’’ (one‑time only) money and that the Department of Commerce would administer the program.

Fitzpatrick said the maximum grant award would be $250,000, that counties with more than one senior center could receive up to two grants with a county‑level cap of $350,000, and that applicants would be required to provide a dollar‑for‑dollar cash match. He said applications must include bids or vendor quotes, require grantees to keep funds in a segregated account, and require quarterly reimbursement requests rather than upfront payments. The bill’s language largely tracks House Bill 5 from the 2023 session, Fitzpatrick said.

The committee recommended the bill do pass on a recorded second‑reading vote of 79 ayes and 21 noes. Later in the floor session Majority Leader Vince Fitzpatrick moved to re‑refer House Bill 182 to the House Appropriations Committee; the motion was approved without objection.

Why it matters: the bill would direct a finite pool of state surplus to local senior centers for building upgrades and equipment, with a strict cash‑match requirement intended to limit the number of awards and ensure local cost sharing. If funded, the program would be administered as a short‑term competitive grant by the Department of Commerce.

Votes and formal actions: On second reading the committee vote to recommend passage was recorded as 79 ayes, 21 noes. Floor motion to re‑refer the bill to Appropriations carried without objection.

Details the bill or floor record specified: the appropriation requested is $5,000,000; maximum grant $250,000; county limit two grants with a combined county cap of $350,000; a dollar‑for‑dollar cash match is required; reimbursements are by department reimbursement after expenditures; Department of Commerce would administer. The bill includes an exemption from title 75, chapter 1, parts 1 and 2 review procedures for grants issued under the program.

Next steps: Re‑referral to the Appropriations Committee means the House will consider funding specifics and any fiscal adjustments before final passage. No final implementation timeline or award schedule was set on the floor record.