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Committee concurs in SB 553 after amendments: $1 airline fee removed, kratom tea houses and land‑use fixes added
Summary
The committee concurred in Senate Bill 553 after approving multiple amendments that removed the proposed $1 airline fee, renamed an interim committee, protected kratom tea houses, added developer‑reimbursement and parkland‑dedication clarifications, and adjusted retroactivity for some provisions.
The House Business and Labor Committee concurred in Senate Bill 553 as amended after an extended amendment process that struck a proposed $1 airline fee, standardized committee names, and added several policy changes spanning consumer protection, small‑business protections, and land‑use clarifications.
Vice Chair Seacenskrow moved concurrence in SB 553, which as introduced would have prohibited expiration dates on airline travel credits and established a $1 fee on air travel to address human trafficking. Mr. Carroll, speaking as staff, explained amendment 553.1.1 by sponsor Senator Zolnicoff removes the $1 fee and renames the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee to the Energy and Technology Interim Committee; the amendment passed.
Members then considered multiple amendments. Representative Schomer described an amendment to protect kratom tea houses from food licensing enforcement actions, saying the change "protects the tea houses in Billings" and that the sponsor agreed to the insertion. Representative Carter said he was a "soft yes" and supported protecting small businesses but noted discomfort with late additions to bills. Representative Biesley objected to last‑minute amendments citing lack of time for proponents and opponents to be heard.
Representative Nelson described amendments that encourage local governments and the Montana Department of Transportation to allow developer‑financed infrastructure with future reimbursement mechanisms and make clarifications on parkland dedication and cash‑in‑lieu options for subdivisions. The committee also approved a conceptual amendment to remove retroactive applicability for specific sections; members said some retroactivity would remain elsewhere but the parkland retroactivity was removed.
After voting through several amendments by voice vote and proxy, Chair Buttrey announced the committee had concurred in SB 553, "3 times amended," and that the bill will move to the floor. Proxy votes for several members were recorded, and the chair assigned temporary sponsor listings and closed executive action.
The adopted package removes the airline $1 fee, standardizes committee naming, protects kratom tea houses under the DPHHS food licensing framework (allowing on‑premises kratom tea service under the food‑service definition), creates optional developer reimbursement mechanisms for infrastructure and clarifies parkland dedication/cash‑in‑lieu procedures, and limits retroactivity for select amendments.
