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Montana committee hearing on HB 119 spotlights split over state cattle "checkoff"
Summary
Representative Brandon Lier told the House Agriculture Committee HB 119 would create a producer-led Montana Cattle Committee and enable a $1-per-head referendum; proponents said it would fund marketing and research, opponents warned of governance, administrative costs and lack of voting thresholds. Executive action was postponed.
Representative Brandon Lier introduced House Bill 119 to the House Agriculture Committee, saying the bill "creates the Montana Cattle Committee" and provides a framework for a producer-led, producer-voted state assessment. "We are not enacting the tax on the cattle producer with this bill," Lier said, stressing any assessment would require a referendum of producers and pass by a simple majority.
Supporters told the committee the measure would let Montana producers promote Montana cattle and fund research and outreach that the national program cannot. Jim Steinbeizer, a rancher and former Montana Beef Council leader, cited a return-on-investment study and said, "For every dollar invested in the check off, we received in return $13.41."…
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