Committee concurs on three brief transportation bills: fuel-tax point of taxation, right‑of‑way filing cleanup and transit roles clarified

The Montana Senate Transportation Committee concurred in three House bills after brief hearings and largely uncontested testimony.

House Bill 351: point of taxation for fuel Representative Courtney Sprunger (House District 7) said HB351 shifts the point of taxation for fuel to the first licensed distributor who owns the fuel after withdrawal from a terminal or after import into Montana, rather than the last distributor to possess the fuel. The change does not increase the fuel tax rate, she said, but is intended to reduce redundant transaction tracking by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT). "In terms of volume, we process about 85,000 lines of these transactions a month," Larry Flynn, deputy director of MDT, told the committee, and the change would ‘‘virtually eliminate’’ that tracking for many transfers.

The committee voice-voted to concur in HB351; several members recorded aye by proxy, including Senator Olsen and Senator Fern and another proxy noted for Kazmaier. The motion carried.

House Bill 387: right-of-way filing cleanup Representative Denise Baum (House District 45) said HB387 would remove the requirement that MDT file a short description along with a detailed right-of-way plan for reconstructed or new highways. Baum and MDT officials said the detailed plan set — including maps that identify affected parcels and impacts — would remain on file and that public-notice requirements, including the one-year prior notice of an upcoming project, would not change.

Deputy Director Flynn told the committee the short description adds staff time and confusion for county clerks when plans change; he urged concurrence. The committee voice-voted to concur in HB387; proxies were recorded for Kazmaier, Senator Olson and Senator Fern. The motion carried.

House Bill 345: clarify department and commission roles in transit Representative Jerry Schillinger presented HB345 as a narrowly focused cleanup clarifying the law to reflect current practice and to avoid expecting the Transportation Commission to approve federal pass-through transit allocations to local governments. Flynn described the Transportation Commission as a five‑member board appointed by the governor responsible for approving projects administered by MDT; he said allocations that pass through MDT to local governments are typically not commission approvals.

The committee voice-voted to concur in HB345; proxies were recorded and the motion carried. Senator Esp agreed to carry the bill.

Votes at a glance - HB351 (point of taxation for fuel): motion to concur carried by voice vote; proxies recorded (Olsen, Fern, Kazmaier). - HB387 (right-of-way filing): motion to concur carried by voice vote; proxies recorded (Kazmaier, Olson, Fern). - HB345 (department and commission roles in transit): motion to concur carried by voice vote; proxies recorded (Kazmaier, Olson, Fern).

Each bill’s testimony included MDT officials urging efficiency and clarity; none of the three measures drew sustained opposition in committee.