Spending the coal trust and other upcoming bills
HELENA – When the state’s coal trust fund tips $1 billion this year, Sen. Rick Ripley would like to put the money to work in a different way.
Ripley, R-Wolf Creek, takes his pitch for a Build Montana program to the House National Resources Committee this week. With the bill, 90 percent of revenue taken in above the $1-billion mark would be diverted into a fund for local infrastructure projects.
Ripley’s bill has to meet the approval of 100 of the 150 legislators to go to the voters in November. The bill passed the Senate 30-20.
The Legislature is on Easter break Friday and the following Monday.
Monday
9 a.m. — House Bill 2, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton, is the state’s major budget bill, which Gov. Steve Bullock has threatened to veto in its current state. The Senate Finance and Claims Committee will work on the bill all week.
3 p.m. — House Bill 322, sponsored by Rep. Donald Jones, R-Billings, would create education savings accounts for children with disabilities and is expected to cost the state about $250,000 a year. Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee.
3 p.m. — House Bill 483, sponsored by Rep. Ed Lieser, D-Whitefish, would raise pension benefits for volunteer firefighters. Senate State Administration Committee.
3 p.m. — Senate Bill 275, sponsored by Sen. Roger Webb, R-Billings, would put forth a constitutional amendment to elect the board of public education. Now the governor appoints and senate confirms the seven board members. House Education Committee.
3 p.m. — Senate Bill 148, sponsored by Sen. Cary Smith, R-Billings, is called a welfare prevention act would establish a computer system to verify identity and eligibility of applicants for public assistance, requiring an estimated 26 full-time employees and expected to cost $4.6 million to $1.8 million a year, a figure Smith disputes. The House Human Services Committee also will hear Smith’s Senate Bill 349, which would require a health insurance issuer offering group or individual insurance that includes coverage of abortion to also offer coverage that does not.
Tuesday
8 a.m. — House Bill 639, sponsored by Rep. Ellie Hill, D-Missoula, aims to send before the voters a constitutional amendment to revise term limits for legislators from eight to 16 years. House State Administration Committee.
Wednesday
10 a.m. — House Bill 78, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Lynch, D-Butte, would establish that information an automobile black box records belongs to the vehicle owner and can’t be accessed by insurance companies without permission. Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee.
3 p.m. — Senate Bill 353, sponsored by Sen. Rick Ripley, R-Wolf Creek, would send to the voters a constitutional referendum to divert coal trust and create the Build Montana program. The House National Resources Committee also will hear Ripley’s Senate Bill 354 to create an infrastructure funding program.
Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Inbody at kinbody@greatfallstribune.com. Follow her on Twitter at @GFTrib_KInbody.