Montana Department of Agriculture seeks modest HB2 increases, $561,000 in lab equipment and expanded grant and monitoring authority

The Montana Department of Agriculture told the House Appropriations Section C on the record that it will seek modest increases in its House Bill 2 authority, primarily funded from state special revenue and fee-based accounts, and requested one-time funding for laboratory equipment and several program authority changes.

Deputy Director Zach Coccoli said the department’s biennial request keeps staffing steady: "the Department of Agriculture remains, as strong of a position financially and programmatically as I've seen in my tenure at the Montana Department of Agriculture." He told the committee the agency is asking for no new FTE and is emphasizing a small general fund proposal and mostly state special revenue authority adjustments.

Chief Financial Officer Cody Pierce briefed members that the agency’s annual budget is roughly $30 million, with about $20 million subject to HB2 review; roughly 60% of departmental funding comes from state special revenue, about 20% from federal grants and a smaller proprietary fund (the Hale insurance program). Pierce detailed decision packages the department will press for the upcoming biennium, including increased operational authority for the pesticide…