Cutting red tape

relevant tax year.

HB 251 introduced by Llew Jones is the “Debt Free in 2023” bill the Governor mentioned in his State of the State speech January 25th. This pays of approximately $125 million in Bonds. Any excess funds will be split 50-50 to the General Fund and Capital Development Fund.

by Michele Binkley

HB 212 introduced by Josh Kassmier increases the class eight business equipment exemption to 1 million. This exemption will help small business owners. In Ravalli County it will help 1,075 businesses, according to the Montana Department of Revenue. These businesses are farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and commercial establishments.

HB 221 Introduced by Tom Welch revises the tax rates applicable to net long-term capital gains. This sets longterm capital gains at 3% for low-income taxpayers and 4.1% for higher income taxpayers. This clarifcation brings Montana up to a more competitive arena compared with our neighboring states. It will make Montana more business friendly.

HB 222 introduced by Tom Welch provides for approximately 250 million in property tax rebates. This will amount to $500 or the amount of total property taxes paid whichever is less, for tax year 2022 and $500 or the amount of total property taxes paid, whichever is less, for tax year 2023. It is a rebate provided for Montana property taxes assessed to and paid by a taxpayer or taxpayers on property they owned and occupied as a principal residence during the

BRHA valentine special

Running Saturday, February 11th through Saturday, February 18th, our adoption fees for adult dogs & cats is being reduced with an approved adoption application; fees for adult dogs $100.00 and adult cats $50! These discounted fee prices also include our “Cat Buddy Program”, where you can adopt two adult cats for the price of one.

Community members age 55+ are eligible to adopt a senior pet, seven years of age or older, under our “Senior to Senior” Program with fees waived completely. All the adoptions include spay/neuter, vaccinations, micro-chipped and engraved ID tag!

If you’re ready for love, have room in your heart & home, now is the PURR-FECT time to adopt your new lifelong friend. We’re located at 262 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton with adoption hours Tuesday-Friday 1pm to 6pm, Saturday & Sunday noon to 5pm and Closed on Mondays. For more information call 406.363.5311 and check out all our BRHA guests at www.bitterroothumane.org that Montanans take their huckleberries seriously, whether it’s keeping secret a prized patch or making sure that what claims to be made with huckleberries is in fact made with huckleberries. House Bill 94 would reduce red tape and protect this Montana tradition.

HB 267 introduced by Courtenay Sprunger known as the “SAFER” ACT (Securing Access to Federal Expenditures to Repair Montana Roads and Bridges). The purpose of this bill is to stabilize the impact to state funding sources necessary to leverage certain federal funds. It provides a state match for additional federal funds allocated to the department through federal redistribution and a match for discretionary grants awarded to the department. These funds will be used to repair Montana roads and bridges. These six bills were tied together in the Appropriations Committee by language that basically states they are to be passed together as one package. If one fails, each bill is diminished in funds. The House passed these bills on Thursday and are now headed to the Senate. Hopefully they are quickly passed along to the Governor for his signature. It has been the desire of the legislature to get these bills passed quickly so we can continue with the State’s business. It is important to all of us to work out a solution to return funds as best we can where all Montanans will beneft. I agreed with this plan and supported the amendments that tie them all together. There are many other bills working their way through both the House and the Senate dealing with tax reductions, tax exemptions, and additional return of excess revenue.

One of Governor Gianforte’s campaign promises was to reduce the burdensome regulations that have been restricting our state’s economy. The legislature is working with the Governor to tackle this problem in the form of red tape relief bills. These pro-business, pro-Montana bills run the gamut from reducing licensure restrictions to removing requirements to report where Montanans pick their huckleberries. In totality, the over 170 red tape relief bills create a package that will streamline government and help unleash the potential of our economy.

One example is House Bill 152 that would help with the occupational licensing process in Montana by reducing the number of license applications that state boards must approve. It would also standardize the language for nearly 200 diferent professions that require licensing in the state of Montana. This will speed up access to opportunity and job creation across a wide variety of careers that require professional licenses.

by Jason Ellsworth

Under Montana law people picking huckleberries are required to report where the patch they were picked from is, even though no one was doing that and there was no way of enforcing the law. HB 94 would do away with the reporting requirements as well as ensure that huckleberry products are in fact made with huckleberries.

Another red tape relief bill is House Bill 113. Hucksters are people who sell fruits and vegetables door to door. Currently, hucksters are required to get a $25 license from their county treasurer. Passing House Bill 113 would suspend the $25 license, allowing schoolchildren and others to operate without that unneeded hurdle.

One thing everyone knows is

These examples are merely meant to highlight the range and depth of the red tape relief bills; they are a small fraction of the bills being brought in an efort to reduce government’s intrusion into our everyday lives. We want to make it easier for people to work and live in Montana. We want people who are already coming to Montana to easily get to work, especially in a lot of the industries where we are severely understafed. Each red tape relief is relatively small by itself, but together, they add up to significant improvement in the business and entrepreneurial climate in our state.

Jason Ellsworth represents Senate District 43 in the Bitterroot Valley and is the President of the Montana Senate.