Montana Congressional Bills

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 16, 2023

S 846: New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2023

This bill allows meat and poultry products inspected under state programs to be sold across state lines, removing a long-standing restriction that limited such sales to within a single state. It requires the federal government to permit interstate shipment of these state-inspected products and mandates that states cannot ban or restrict their sale or movement. Small meat and poultry processors in states with their own inspection programs - rather than federal inspection - would directly benefit by expanding their market reach beyond state borders. The law makes no changes to inspection standards but enables broader commerce for products already meeting federal safety requirements.

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 16, 2023

S 866: American Innovation and Jobs Act

This bill modifies U.S. tax code to boost research and development (R&D) investment by businesses. It allows companies to immediately deduct R&D costs (instead of amortizing them over 5 years) and expands refundable tax credits for small businesses, raising the annual credit cap from $250,000 to $750,000 by 2032. Small businesses with gross receipts under $15 million can now qualify for higher credit rates (up to 20% of R&D costs) and may exclude years with no R&D expenses when calculating credits. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after December 2022, directly benefiting R&D-focused startups and small businesses.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 16, 2023

S 871: A bill to amend section 7014 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to advance toward full Federal funding for impact aid, and for other purposes.

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to increase annual federal funding for impact aid programs. It sets specific, rising funding amounts for four key areas: payments to school districts affected by federal property use ($90.3M in 2024, growing to $150.3M by 2029), basic payments to local school districts ($1.63B in 2024, growing to $2.45B by 2029), payments for children with disabilities ($60.3M in 2024, growing to $120.3M by 2029), and school construction grants ($22.9M in 2024, growing to $45.4M by 2029). These funds directly support school districts facing financial impacts from federal land ownership or operations. The bill advances toward full federal funding for these established programs by authorizing increased annual appropriations through 2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 16, 2023

S 849: A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish higher minimum rates of pay for certain law enforcement employees of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for other purposes.

This bill (S 849) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to set higher minimum pay rates for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers in specific locations where recruitment or retention is difficult. It allows pay increases up to 30% above standard rates (capped at Executive Schedule Level IV pay) when factors like higher non-Federal wages, remote locations, or hazardous working conditions hinder hiring. The Secretary must annually update regulations and notify affected employees if pay rates are reduced. This directly affects BIA public safety officers in challenging work areas, aiming to address staffing challenges through targeted compensation adjustments.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 15, 2023

SJRES 20: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'".

This joint resolution (SJRES 20) seeks to block a 2023 rule from the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that classified certain firearms with stabilizing braces as rifles under federal law. If passed, it would nullify the rule, meaning firearms equipped with these braces would no longer be subject to the rule’s classification requirements. The resolution uses the congressional disapproval process under Title 5, U.S. Code, to stop the rule from taking effect, directly affecting firearm manufacturers and owners who use stabilizing braces on weapons.

John Kennedy (R) · 46 co-sponsors

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 15, 2023

S 813: Expanding Local Meat Processing Act of 2023

This bill revises a federal regulation to allow small meat processors to own local market agencies. It directly affects small-scale meat packers with annual slaughter volumes below specific limits: fewer than 700,000 cattle/sheep or 3 million hogs per year. The key change requires the Agriculture Secretary to exempt qualifying packers from existing ownership restrictions in federal regulations. This would enable smaller processors to more easily operate or own local meat marketing facilities without violating current rules. The policy change is purely procedural, modifying an existing regulation rather than creating new programs or funding.

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 14, 2023

S 799: Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2023

This bill modernizes Medicare coverage for chiropractic care by removing the outdated limit that restricted beneficiaries to one annual chiropractic clinic visit. It expands coverage to include all chiropractic services within a provider's state license, specifically manual spinal adjustments to correct subluxations, aligning Medicare with VA, military, and private insurance standards. Chiropractors must complete a brief online training verification once to bill Medicare for these services. The change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries seeking ongoing chiropractic treatment and chiropractors participating in Medicare.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 14, 2023

S 796: Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023

This bill removes a permitting requirement for fire retardant discharges during firefighting operations. It states that federal agencies (like the Forest Service and National Park Service), state governments, local governments, and tribal governments do not need a permit under the Clean Water Act for fire retardant used in fire suppression, control, or prevention. The key provision eliminates a specific permit requirement (Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act) for these emergency fire activities. This directly affects agencies and personnel conducting wildfire response operations across public lands and communities.

Topics ✗ Environment

in committee · Montana · House Mar 14, 2023

HR 1572: Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023

This bill authorizes a Congressional Gold Medal to honor the "Hello Girls" - female telephone operators who served in the Army Signal Corps during World War I. They provided critical battlefield communications in France (connecting 26 million calls), wore military uniforms, and faced combat risks, but were denied veteran benefits for 60 years due to being classified as civilian contractors. The medal recognizes their pioneering service, devotion, and the decades-long struggle to gain military recognition. The award follows similar recognition for other WWII women veterans and aims to correct the historical injustice they faced.

Topics ✓ Veterans

Emanuel Cleaver (D) · 300 co-sponsors

in committee · Montana · House Mar 10, 2023

HR 1564: Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act

This bill requires the U.S. State Department to officially designate four specific Mexican drug cartels (Gulf Cartel, Cartel Del Noreste, Cartel de Sinaloa, and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion) as foreign terrorist organizations under existing law. It mandates a 30-day report explaining why these groups meet the legal criteria for such designation, including justification if they don't. The report must be submitted to specified congressional committees and may lead to additional cartels being designated based on the findings. The bill also clarifies that this designation won't affect asylum eligibility for individuals fleeing these groups.

Chip Roy (R) · 32 co-sponsors

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 9, 2023

SCONRES 5: A concurrent resolution supporting the Local Radio Freedom Act.

This concurrent resolution expresses Congress's support for the Local Radio Freedom Act by opposing new fees for local radio stations playing music over the air. It states that imposing performance fees would harm the longstanding relationship between radio stations and the music industry, jeopardize emergency broadcasts and local programming, and cause economic hardship for radio stations and small businesses (like bars and retail stores) that rely on free music licensing. The resolution specifically urges against any new fee, tax, or royalty related to radio stations' public performance of sound recordings. As a non-binding statement, it does not create new law but formally advocates for maintaining the current system.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Montana · Senate Mar 9, 2023

S 732: Biochar Research Network Act of 2023

S 732, the Biochar Research Network Act of 2023, establishes a national network of up to 20 research sites to study how biochar (a charcoal-like substance made from plant waste) improves soil health, sequesters carbon, and boosts farm productivity across different conditions. It directly affects farmers, ranchers, foresters, and land managers by funding research to provide practical, region-specific guidance on using biochar effectively. The bill mandates testing various biochar types, production methods, and soil applications to understand their impact on crop yields, climate mitigation, and ecosystem health, while generating data for models predicting environmental and economic outcomes. It authorizes $50 million annually (2023-2028) for this research, administered by USDA agencies in coordination with other federal departments.

Topics ✓ Environment

Montana Congressional Bills

Bill results