Senate Finance and Claims advances HB245 and SB50 after fiscal-note hearings; several bills concurred or passed

The Senate Finance and Claims Committee met to examine fiscal notes and move several bills forward, hearing detailed cost assumptions for House Bill 245 and Senate Bill 50 before taking executive action that advanced six measures.

Representative Ed Butchery, sponsor of House Bill 245, told the committee the bill removes a requirement to contract out employment services under the HELP Act and instead tasks the Department of Labor to provide those services directly. "The Department of Labor, with passage of 2 45, will serve clients directly through the agency's 18 job service offices," he said, and told members the fiscal note assumes "an additional $125,000 per year in state special revenue authority" to serve additional clients.

Business and nonprofit groups supported the measure. Todd O'Hair, president and CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, said workforce shortages make upskilling critical and described the bill's modest fee and training elements as important to employers. Matt Kuntz, executive director of NAMI Montana, also voiced support for shifting services to state labor offices.

The committee also opened a hearing on Senate Bill 50, which would require Child Protective Services to seek warrants when removing a child. Senator Emmerich summarized the bill and the fiscal note, saying the estimate includes a $362,000 initial cost based on an assumption that warrant-related field time would generate overtime pay. "I think that that's a probably an inaccurate assumption," he said, arguing the fiscal note may overstate overtime costs.

Committee members pressed agency witnesses on those assumptions. Nicky Grossberg, Division Administrator for Child and Family Services, explained the fiscal estimate includes fieldwork and waiting time for warrants and told senators "that 5 hours would be waiting for approval for that warrant to be able to be issued," noting availability of judges can vary significantly by community.

After the hearings, the committee recessed and returned for executive action. On roll call the committee concurred in House Bill 245 (13 yes, 9 no); Chair Glum corrected a recorded vote during the count. A motion to do pass on Senate Bill 50 carried unanimously and the bill will return to the floor.

On other business, the committee considered House Bill 13 (the pay plan). Senator Mandeville moved to remove the legislative pay increase; opponents, including Senator Wendy Boye, objected on affordability grounds and the amendment failed by roll call (3 yes, 19 no). The committee then concurred in House Bill 13 as introduced (14 yes, 8 no).

The committee also concurred in House Bill 3 as amended. Members approved three amendments during executive action: roughly $3.2 million for Department of Justice legal services, $600,000 shifted to general fund for an item discussed in the bill, and an additional $10 million for Department of Corrections bed spending; the supplemental passed out of committee with a single dissenting vote.

Senate Bill 91, which would add a citizenship marker symbol to driver's licenses, drew comment about a $116,000 design line in the fiscal note; members suggested conceptual amendments on that line item. The committee passed SB 91 with recorded votes and, because it was amended, it will return to second reading on the Senate floor.

Finally, Senate Bill 19, revising sentencing related to theft, was advanced out of Finance and Claims after debate referencing earlier Justice Reinvestment reforms; the committee voted 14 yes to 8 no to pass the bill to third reading.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 245 (concur): motion passed 13 yes, 9 no; will go to third reading. - Senate Bill 50 (do pass): passed unanimously; will return to the floor (third reading). - House Bill 13 (pay plan): amendment to remove legislative pay increase failed (3 yes, 19 no); bill concurred 14 yes, 8 no. - House Bill 3 (supplemental): three amendments adopted (including ~$3.2M DOJ legal services, $600K general-fund shift, $10M DOC beds); bill concurred as amended with one dissent. - Senate Bill 91 (citizenship marker): passed Finance and Claims 13 yes, 9 no; because amended, returns to second reading on the floor. - Senate Bill 19 (theft sentencing): passed Finance and Claims 14 yes, 8 no; will go to third reading.

What to watch next: bills that left Finance and Claims will appear on the Senate floor for further consideration; several measures were advanced with committee concerns noted about fiscal assumptions that agencies may refine in follow-up work.