Montana State Legislature

2019-2020 Economic Affairs

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Next Scheduled Meeting:

There are no meetings scheduled. The EAIC has finished its 2019-2020 interim.

Meeting Information

Actions taken at the Sept. 10 EAIC meeting:

  • Adopted committee bills:
    • revising  alcohol law for breweries, dual licenses;
    • revising  lodging taxes regarding sellers
  • Forwarding to formal drafting bill proposals from:
    • the Dept of Agriculture
    • the Dept of Commerce
    • the Dept of Labor & Industry
    • the Dept of Livestock
    • the State Auditor's Office

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

There are no upcoming meetings. The EAIC has finished its 2019-2020 work.

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About the Committee

The Economic Affairs Interim Committee (EAIC) is a joint bipartisan committee of the Montana House and Senate that meets between legislative sessions. The EAIC conducts interim studies and generally reviews issues related to business, labor, and economic development. Under agency oversight, the EAIC monitors the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Labor and Industry, and Livestock, as well as the Office of the State Auditor, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Montana State Fund, the Division of Banking and Financial Institutions, and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.

Committee Members

REPRESENTATIVE
SHARON STEWART PEREGOY (D) --Chair

REPRESENTATIVE
VINCE RICCI (R) --Vice Chair

SENATOR
JASON ELLSWORTH (R)

REPRESENTATIVE
DEREK HARVEY (D)

REPRESENTATIVE
JOSH KASSMIER (R)

SENATOR
NATE MCCONNELL (D)

REPRESENTATIVE
MARK NOLAND (R)

SENATOR
FRANK J. SMITH (D)

REPRESENTATIVE
KATIE SULLIVAN (D)

SENATOR
GORDON (GORDY) VANCE (R)

Committee Staff:

Pat Murdo, Lead Staff
Jameson Walker, Attorney
Fong Hom, Secretary

Draft Work Plan from June 2019 meeting.
Adopted Work Plan for November 2019 meeting. Revised Work Plan.

General Information:

September 10, 2020: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

July 1, 2020: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

June 30, 2020: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

April 30, 2020: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

April 9, 2020: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

February 13, 2020: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

February 12, 2020:  Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

January 15, 2020:  Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

November 7, 2019: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

September 11, 2019: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

June 6, 2019: Agenda - Minutes Log - Video / Audio

STUDIES

The Economic Affairs Interim Committee received assignments from Legislative Council for three studies in the 2019-2020 interim:

  • HJ29 - A study of Meat Inspections in Montana. No report
  • SJ18 - A study of Professional and Occupational Licensing Related to Those with Criminal Convictions
  • SJ24 - A study of the Lodging Facility Use Tax

STATUTORY DUTIES for the Economic Affairs Interim Committee includes agency monitoring of:

RULE REVIEW and REPORTS

The Economic Affairs Committee reviews rules of these agencies and receives reports, including reports of an Advisory Committee on Co-Located Labs established under HB 586. The Economic Affairs Committee also objected to a rule regarding vaping, which triggered a response from the Department of Public Health and Human Services and actions listed on the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee website. CFHHS oversees DPHHS.

MEMBER ISSUES

Member issues are also a component of the interim. The committee members decided to add a focus on alcohol laws, broadband, and implementation of presumptive disease for firefighters under workers' compensation. These were added to a revised  work plan. 

EMERGING ISSUES - COVID-RELATED INFORMATION

  • The EAIC sent a letter to the Governor requesting use of CARES Act funds for broadband in Montana

 

The committee voted on the following to be introduced as committee bills:

  • a broadband/cable incentive  bill based on SB 239 (2019) ; with an added reporting component.
  • a bill to change the terminology to "seller" from "owner/operator" for lodging facility use taxes
  • a bill revising alcohol laws related to interior walls in breweries and dual license holding by spouses

Placeholder legislation to be considered at the Sept. 10 meeting  included the following topics not adopted as committee bills:

  • Expansion of gaming laws to include historical horseracing
  • Revision of lodging facility use tax laws Revising Sales/Use Tax

Proposed EAIC-Monitored Agency Legislation (As proposed. For actual, introduced bills, see the LAWS website and search for agency name.)

Alcohol Beverage Control Division, Dept. of Revenue
Department of  Agriculture
Department of  Commerce
Department of  Labor and Industry,  Board Proposals
Department of  Livestock
State Auditor's Office

See the Reports page for reports newly required by the 2019 Legislature and other required reports. The Rules page also can be accessed from the Reports page.