Department of Commerce objects to Senate amendment to shrink Heritage Commission

Senate Bill 116, sponsored by Senator Tony Tzczak at the House State Administration committee, would reduce the Montana Heritage Commission from 14 members to 9 and clarify the commission's reporting relationships to create stronger checks on the executive director.

Mandy Rambo, deputy director and acting director at the Department of Commerce, testified in opposition to an amendment added in the Senate that would reallocate appointment authority to give more appointments to legislative leadership. Rambo said the department supports the original bill text but opposed the amendment because it could produce frequent turnover and continuity problems: if legislative leadership does not appoint members, the governor cannot advertise those seats until two months later, potentially leaving the commission short of a quorum for scheduled quarterly meetings.

Rambo also described the institutional context: the Department of Commerce discovered alleged embezzlement and money‑laundering activity by a prior executive director, referred the matter to the legislative auditor, the Department of Justice and local law enforcement, and said clearer statutory oversight would help prevent similar problems. She told the committee the Heritage Commission oversees more than 250 assets in Virginia City, Nevada City and Helena and said the department would support the bill if it reverted to the original language it presented.

Senator Tzczak and committee members discussed staggered terms, appointment patterns and the rationale for the Senate amendment; the sponsor closed by thanking the deputy director and asking the committee to consider the bill. The hearing closed with no recorded committee vote in the transcript.