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Senate Local Government hears testimony supporting four nominees to Montana Board of Housing
Summary
Senate committee heard proponents for four governor-appointed members to the Montana Board of Housing, who supporters said bring housing, finance and tribal-health experience; committee paused for questions and closed the hearing for a later confirmation vote.
Senate Local Government opened a hearing on Senate Resolution 91 to consider Governor Gianforte’s appointments to the Montana Board of Housing. Senator Forrest Mandeville introduced the resolution and said the committee would hear testimony before deciding on concurrence.
Dylan Klapmeier, the governor’s policy advisor at the Department of Commerce, described the four nominees — Rachel Arthur, Bruce Posey, Richard Miltonberger and Amber Parrish — and summarized the board’s statutory purpose under MCA 2 15, 18, 14 and the Montana Housing Act of 1975: partnering on affordable housing development, issuing tax-exempt bonds, allocating federal low-income housing tax credits and administering homebuyer programs.
Cheryl Cohen, executive director of the Montana Board of Housing, urged a ‘do pass’ recommendation. She said Posey has served as board chair and Parrish as secretary, noted the board’s federal advocacy role and told senators a full board is important for upcoming items such as training and program work.
Melissa Shannon of the Montana Housing Coalition also recommended the nominees, saying her organization works closely with the board on distributing multifamily funds.
Nominee Rachel Arthur described her eight years at the Indian Family Health Clinic in Great Falls and said she would advocate for housing solutions for urban American Indian residents. Amber Parrish, testifying remotely, said she brings real-estate industry experience from the Billings Association of Realtors and the title industry and expressed interest in continuing her service. Bruce Posey, the board chair and an informational witness, said he supports having a full board and outlined priorities.
Senators asked about housing strategies on reservations and urban Indian access to programs. Senator Fern pressed Arthur on pathways to bring more funding and education to American Indian homebuyers; Arthur said urban Indian residents often lack education about existing homeownership programs and that advocacy would be part of her role.
The hearing on Senate Resolution 91 was closed for executive action later in the agenda. The committee did not take a confirmation vote on the record during this session; members deferred the formal concurrence decision to a later executive-action calendar.
