Budget & Taxes (Government Spending)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 29, 2025

LC 992: Prohibit direct or indirect expenditure of public money to hire lobbyist

This bill prohibits political subdivisions, judicial officers, and school districts in Montana from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay nonprofit organizations that primarily represent political subdivisions and engage in lobbying activities. The law allows these entities to cover reasonable travel and per diem expenses for public officers lobbying on their behalf but bars direct payments to lobbying services. It also provides taxpayers and residents the right to seek injunctive relief and recover attorney fees if public funds are improperly used for lobbying purposes. Additionally, the bill amends existing rules of conduct for public officers and employees to reinforce restrictions on using public resources for private business purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill restricts public spending on lobbying services, promoting fiscal responsibility and reducing unnecessary government expenditures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 1520: Generally revise disaster and emergency laws

This bill increases the statutory funding available for disaster and emergency responses in Montana, raising the governor's emergency expenditure limit from $20 million to $22 million per biennium. It also creates a new $3 million annual allocation for the Department of Military Affairs to fund disaster planning, training, and administrative costs without requiring a formal disaster declaration. Additionally, the bill clarifies that any unused funds from the emergency appropriation must be transferred to the fire suppression account at the end of each biennium. These changes apply to state agencies designated by the governor and take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases emergency funding limits and creates new allocations for disaster response, directly advancing state budget capacity for essential services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 618: Provide for a Montana individual freedom act

House Bill 618, the "Montana Individual Freedom Act," aimed to restrict how state and local government agencies, including the Department of Military Affairs, could use public funds. The bill would have prohibited these agencies from spending money on memberships, goods, or services from organizations that discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. It also sought to prevent the expenditure of funds on programs related to "diversity, equity, and inclusion" or on political or social activism. The Attorney General would have been granted authority to investigate alleged violations and adopt rules for enforcement.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts state budget allocation by defunding DEI programs and prohibiting spending on organizations with certain policies, directly limiting government expenditure.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits discrimination based on national origin, a key immigration-related protected class, indirectly supporting immigrant rights.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 1852: Prohibit local governments and state agencies from expending public funds for lobbying

LC 1852 would have prohibited local governments (like cities and counties) and state agencies from using taxpayer money to pay for lobbying activities. The bill directly affected these entities by banning the expenditure of public funds to influence legislation or government decisions. Its key provision was a clear ban on using public money for lobbying, regardless of the purpose or target of the lobbying effort. This bill died in the legislative process in May 2025 and never became law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill prohibits public funds for lobbying, restricting government spending on non-essential activities, directly limiting fiscal expenditures under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Tags Local Government

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 254: Prohibit direct or indirect expenditure of public money to hire lobbyist

SB 254 prohibits Montana local governments (including counties, cities, towns, and school districts) and judicial officers from using public funds to hire lobbyists or pay organizations that hire lobbyists on their behalf. It allows public officials to use public funds for travel and expenses related to lobbying on behalf of their entity, following standard per diem rates. The bill also enables taxpayers or residents to sue to stop prohibited spending and recover attorney fees if they win such cases, ensuring government entities cannot use taxpayer money to influence legislation through lobbying.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts public funds for lobbying, limiting government spending on non-essential activities per Local Finance subjects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending

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died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 3096: Resolution regarding state government spending

This bill requires Montana legislators to identify specific existing programs that will lose funding to cover any new spending proposed in a bill. If a bill includes a new appropriation (funding request), it must specify which programs' funds will be reallocated to offset the cost within the same bill. It applies directly to all members of the Montana Legislature drafting bills with new spending proposals. The resolution aims to promote fiscal accountability by ensuring new expenditures are balanced with reallocation from current programs, rather than adding to the state budget without offsetting changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires reallocation of existing funds to offset new spending, promoting fiscal accountability as stated in the resolution's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending State Budget

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died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 4055: Generally revise laws related to state budgeting and performance

This bill (LC 4055) proposed revisions to state budgeting and performance laws, aiming to update procedures for managing state funds and measuring government efficiency. It would have directly affected state agencies, budget offices, and potentially local governments by altering how budgets are structured and evaluated. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 22, 2025, before becoming law, meaning no actual policy changes were implemented. As a result, the proposed revisions to budgeting mechanisms and performance metrics never took effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill proposed updating budgeting procedures to improve fund management and efficiency, promoting fiscal responsibility without specific tax/spending changes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Government Spending State Budget

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vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 880: Establish a stabilization fund for medicaid

HB 880 establishes the Medicaid Stabilization Reserve Account, a state special revenue fund designed to help maintain Medicaid benefits during state revenue shortfalls. The account would be primarily funded by transferring any unused state general fund appropriations for Medicaid at the end of a fiscal year. Funds from this account could only be appropriated by the legislature for state Medicaid matching funds after the budget director certifies a projected general fund deficit. This mechanism aims to mitigate expenditure reductions in the Medicaid program, directly affecting the stability of services for beneficiaries. The bill also includes an initial appropriation of $50,000 for state Medicaid matching funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Medicaid Stabilization Reserve Account using unused general fund appropriations to maintain benefits during revenue shortfalls, protecting essential program funding through fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Medicaid Stabilization Reserve to maintain benefits during revenue shortfalls, preventing cuts to healthcare coverage and ensuring continued funding for Medicaid services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Revenue State Budget Medicaid

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