12. Discussion of Legislative Bills'Montana League of Cities and Towns
Fax Number 446 442-9231
Fax Message
To: 'Mark Watson, Clark Johnson, Jack Lynch, John IrtwtoV4 Dennis
Taylor, Al Thelen, Mike Kadas, Steve Golnar, Myrt Webb and
Dale Ennor
From: Alec Hansen
Subject: House B& 91, 273, 515 and Senate Bill 509
Date: February 25,1999
The hearing for House Bill 91, which would essentially prohibit cities and towns from
enforcing building codes beyond their boundaries, is *scheduled for 3:00 F.M., Thursday,
March 4 before the Senate Local Government Committee in Room 405 of the State
Capitol. This bill was approved in the House by a single vote. It is controversial,
complicated and in direct conflict with common sense, and there is a reasonable chance
that we can arrange to have this bill kilted or annended into wisfaetory shape in the
Senate.
It is important for representatives of cities and towns to attend this hearing. We are also
hoping that you will contact Senators on the Committee and arrange for builders and
possibly some lenders in your community to express their opposition to a bill that would
terminate building inspections on residential property in rapidly developing areas around
cities.
House Bill 273 and Senate Bill 509 both would reallocate the bed tax, boosting funds to
cities, towns and oounties by about $4 million a you, HB-273, has been approved by the
Taxation Committee and will likely be debated on the House floor next week. SB-"
will be heard in the Senate Taxation Committee soon after the tra nittal break. We ask
cities to write letters and send fax messages in support of these bills, because there is a
new understanding among members of both Houses of the legitimate need to share some
of the bed tax money with local governments to cover the cost of services provided to
tourists.
Roust Bill 515, which is in=ded to prohibit government competition with private
business, is stalled on a tie vote in the House Business and Labor Committee. This
measure should have died at transmittal, but it was given new life by a deal to exempt
certain bills from the usual deadlines. This bill is broad in scope and bad in implication.
The ban on competition would apply to almost every function of local government, and
change forever the way cities and towns conduct their business. It is important to keep
this genie in the jug, and we ask you to contact House members to express strong
opposition to HB-515.