2023 Montana Legislature: Week One

January 9, 2023 / Comments Off on 2023 Montana Legislature: Week One

Blog Policy News

This week marked the beginning of the 68th Montana Legislature, and it promises to be a busy session. We are still sorting through the more than 4400 bill draft requests, of which just 336 have been introduced.

MNA’s primary focus is on bills related to the nonprofit sector generally including Appropriations, Taxation, Ballot initiatives, Voting/Elections, Campaign Finance, and Lobbying. We are also monitoring significant issues our members have brought to us such as housing, childcare, and other areas where MNA may be able to play an appropriate amplifying or supporting role. In addition we will be monitoring proposed changes to the Montana Constitution in the context of the MNA Public Policy Agenda

MNA’s 2023 Policy Team:

  • Executive Director Liz Moore
  • Membership Manager Tylyn Newcomb
  • University of Montana student intern Jorgia Hawthorne
  • MNA lobbyist Aimee Grmoljez with Crowley Fleck

Bill Watch

Hunter & Angler Community Fund

MNA has been asked to support LC1469 which would establish a Hunter and Angler Community Fund as a way for hunters and anglers to give back to rural communities. We are reviewing the language in the draft and invite your feedback.

Oversight and Standards for Hospital Community Benefits / Charity Care

HB45 is a bill proposed by DPHHS to provide oversight and standards for hospital community benefits/charity care. MNA recognizes that some previous efforts to tax nonprofit property reflect a concern on the part of some legislators that hospitals be more transparent about community benefits and charity care. MNA has talked with Montana Hospital Association about the bill and will monitor progress. We hope to support a bill this session that is good for nonprofit hospitals while relieving some of the pressure to levy property tax on nonprofit organizations. 

Nonprofit Day at the Capitol

Thank you to almost 135 nonprofit board and staff members who joined legislators, members of administration and the Governor’s Office for Nonprofit Day at the Capitol. For those newer to advocacy, congratulations for jumping in! And for those more experienced in policy work, you know how important it is to be a visible presence in the Capitol and you showed up! The result was a celebratory, energetic and effective day of networking and education. Thank you and we will see you in the halls.

Special thanks to Montana Community Foundation for sponsoring and co-hosting Nonprofit Day, and thank you to Pinion (formerly Anderson ZurMuehlen) for your sponsorship. The lasagna made the day – and we couldn’t have done it without you!

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