By Sarah Carlson, MACD Executive Director

The 2007 Legislative Session began officially at noon on January 3 with the swearing in of the 100 House and 50 Senate members. More than 360 bills have been pre-introduced and hundreds more “LCs”—bill drafting requests—wait in the wings and could possibly be introduced this session. Tradition continues with HB 2 being the main funding bill to watch and having the most impact on upcoming CD budgets. The current schedule indicates that the first discussion of CD programs covered in HB 2 will take place February 1 in the Joint Natural Resources Subcommittee of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees. The members of this important Subcommittee are: Senators Ken Hansen (D), Bill Tash (R), and Mitch Tropila (D) and from the House, Representatives Rick Ripley (R), John Musgrove (D), and Craig Witte (R). Ripley is the Chairperson and Hansen is the Vice- Chairperson.

n addition to HB 2, there are other pieces of legislation poised for introduction of interest to the CDs, including LC0070 requested by Sen. Ryan related to CD representation on City Planning Boards and LC2049 requested by Rep. Mike Milburn urging the recognition of federal responsibility in the natural resource devastation in Cascade County’s Whitmore Ravine. Open meeting requirements, meal reimbursement rates, local government audit triggers, and setbacks are other bill topics that MACD, along with local CDs, will be watching closely. To look up bill (and LC) information, click on: http://laws.leg.mt.gov/pls/laws07/law0203w$.startup.