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Legislative Audit Committee acknowledges audits, moves two committee bills and schedules DOC follow-up
Summary
On Dec. 17, the Legislative Audit Committee unanimously acknowledged a series of agency audit reports, endorsed committee bills including electronic filing for lobbyists, and invited the Department of Corrections for follow-up in fall 2025.
The Legislative Audit Committee met Dec. 17, 2024, in Helena and unanimously moved to acknowledge a slate of audit reports from state agencies, endorsed committee legislation on lobbyist electronic filing and auditing the state lottery, and invited the Department of Corrections back for an education-program follow-up in 2025.
Committee action was procedural but wide-ranging: the body approved the Sept. 11–12, 2024 minutes, then took and filed audit reports for the Office of Public Instruction, Department of Revenue, Montana Board of Outfitters, Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Department of Agriculture, Department of Livestock, and several information-technology audit scopes. Each acknowledgement motion was made, debated briefly where applicable, and carried unanimously by voice vote.
On legislation, Rep. Fiona Nave moved the committee to bring a bill clarifying auditing of the state lottery; the motion carried. Sen. Pat Flowers proposed and the committee approved endorsement of a committee bill to require electronic filing for lobbyist disclosures with one-time-only funding and to change reporting thresholds and frequencies, moving reporting to monthly and quarterly schedules as specified during discussion.
The committee also invited the Department of Corrections to return in fall 2025 for a follow-up on education and training opportunities in Montana prisons; Chair Sen. Jason Ellsworth’s invitation was approved by unanimous voice vote.
Votes at a glance: - Approve minutes (Sept. 11–12, 2024): motion by Rep. Jerry Schillinger — carried unanimously. - Acknowledge Office of Public Instruction audit (23-37): motion by Sen. Pat Flowers — carried unanimously. - Acknowledge Public Access to Lobbying Information audit (24P-02): motion by Sen. Pat Flowers — carried unanimously. - Acknowledge Appraising New Construction audit (23P-05): motion by Rep. Fiona Nave — carried unanimously. - Acknowledge Oversight Improvements in Outfitting and Guiding Industry audit (23P-07): motion by Sen. Pat Flowers — carried unanimously. - Bring a bill to clarify auditing the lottery: motion by Rep. Fiona Nave — carried unanimously. - Endorse electronic filing bill for lobbyist reports (with one-time funding; reporting frequency changes): motion by Sen. Pat Flowers — carried unanimously. - Acknowledge Unlocking Public Lands audit (24P-04) and FWP financial audit (23-36): motion by Rep. Fiona Nave/Rep. Nave — carried unanimously. - Acknowledge Department of Agriculture audit (23-38): motion by Rep. Nave — carried unanimously. - Acknowledge Department of Livestock audit (23-39): motion by Sen. Pat Flowers — carried unanimously. - Invite Department of Corrections to return in fall 2025: invitation by Chair Sen. Jason Ellsworth — carried unanimously.
What happens next: the committee directed distribution of the audit reports as required by law and instructed staff to pursue the endorsed committee bills. The Department of Corrections was scheduled to appear later in 2025 for the education follow-up, per the committee’s invitation.
