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Rotunda Roundup
from Montana Farmers Union
Legislative Update for
Jan. 13-17th
The following is a weekly update of Montana Farmers Union involvement in the 2025 Montana Legislative Session. MFU is the state's largest and oldest grassroots family farm advocacy organization representing family farms, ranches, and rural communities for more than 100 years.
This week, the second week of the 69th Legislative session included more hearings and bills that crossed the rostrum for consideration. Montana Farmers Union is looking closely at bills this session on a variety of topics. This week, we saw a range of legislation from energy independence to a cattle committee to supporting volunteer firefighters and rural EMS, among many other bills that we are monitoring. Below are some highlights from the week.
CURRENT ACTION ALERT:
Call members of the House Ag committee and tell them to
Vote no on HB 119
HB 119 - Establish MT Cattle Committee:
Adds bureaucracy without benefits.
Sponsored by Rep. Brandon Ler, Heard in the House Ag Committee on Thursday, Jan. 9 MFU is currently opposed to the bill.
(Read the bill here.)
The bill provides for a politically appointed committee that would collect an assessment fee of $1 from Montana Cattle producers upon a referendum vote.
It’s unclear what goals this 2nd dollar would achieve that can’t be achieved by the current beef check off. If additional funding is truly needed for the purposes outlined in the bill, we should allow the current MT Beef Council to administer it with clearly defined parameters.
- This cattle committee is duplicating administration done by the MT Beef Council.
- The Montana Beef Council (which predates the national beef checkoff) represents the industry better than what is proposed in HB 119, which asks for a politically appointed committee with no districts or representation requirements. Further, the bill does not provide representation from tribal agricultural organizations to be included in the pool of nominees the governor would select from.
- The referendum vote outlined in the bill needs some requirements and clarifications. This bill only has a majority vote requirement meaning a small amount of cattle producers in the state could vote in the referendum, and as long as the majority of those voters support it, the assessment fee applies to all producers.
- A problem many Montana livestock producers have with the current checkoff is the majority of the funds end up with the National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA). Even though checkoff dollars are not to be used for lobbying purposes, the NCBA lobbies on behalf of the packers. The funds from the cattle committee could also be sent to the NCBA. There should be a restriction in place to prevent funds from going to the NCBA.
Call or email members of the House Ag committee and tell them to vote NO on HB 119
EMAIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE
Read our full analysis and position on the bill + our current action alert here: https://montanafarmersunion.com/rotunda-roundup-2025/
Bills supported:
HB 129 - Provide income tax benefit to support emergency response volunteers sponsored by Rep. Llew Jones, Heard in the House Tax Committee on Tuesday, Jan 14.
(Read the bill here.)
The bill provides an income tax benefit for volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency care providers. MFU is deeply invested in supporting our rural EMS providers and doing what we can to support them. The service they provide is often the difference between life and death for farmers and ranchers. MFU has started the Far Out and Waiting educational program; what to do while waiting for the ambulance to arrive at your farm and ranch, partnering with rural County EMS providers to help bridge the gap to ambulance care. This bill is a good way to further support those who provide lifesaving care, as we are having fewer and fewer folks serving in the EMS space in our rural communities.
Status & Next steps: The committee has passed the bill. It will be sent to the full House Floor for 2nd reading soon.
Department of Livestock’s Budget Request in front of the Appropriations Subcommittee Section C, Natural Resources/Transportation –
MFU testified in support of the Department of Livestock's budget request: MFU Stands in support of the Dept. of Livestock budget and acknowledges the critical services provided to Montana ranchers on animal health and meat inspection. The funding requests for the Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, as well as acknowledging the need to support increased inspectors for processing facilities in the state of Montana. All of which aids in the continuation of building up our local food system.
HB 120 – Expanding CPACE opportunities to add in multi-family housing facilities
Sponsored by Rep. Julie Darling, Heard in the House State Administration on Wednesday, Jan 15.
(Read the bill here.)
This bill expands a current state program that creates more opportunity for energy independence and use of renewable energy through financing to make energy efficiency upgrades, water conservation projects, and renewable energy investments more attainable to commercial building owners, including farms. Expanding this program further adds the opportunity for counties and rural communities further their energy independence by expanding to include multi-family housing facilities, which includes, assisted living facilities, hospitals and more to be a part of the program.
Status & Next steps: The committee has passed the bill. It will be sent to the full House Floor for 2nd reading soon
SB 8 – Allow for online voter registration
Sponsored by Sen. Wendy McKamey and heard in the Senate State Administration committee on Wednesday Jan. 15.
(Read the bill here.)
Our member written policy supports voting processes which secures the ease of access to voting by all citizens. Online voter registration will help rural Montanans who many of which live very far from polling locations, ensure they are registered to vote in elections from their own home, saving valuable time that can be spent on our farms and ranches.
Status & Next steps: The committee will be voting on the bill soon
Coming up next week:
Monday, Jan. 20 in the Senate Local Government committee we will hear SB 90: Redistribute certain state tax revenue to primary residence property tax relief, sponsored by Sen. Carl Glimm. Montana Farmers Union opposes SB 90, as the bill would end the funding for some critical programs that benefit rural and agricultural communities, notably Commerce’s Agritourism Grant program. While we monitor solutions for property tax relief, we don’t feel this is the right approach. We have members who received funds from the Department of Commerce’s Agritourism grant in December of 2024. The work these dollars do to grow rural communities and enhance access to agriculture through agritourism provides important opportunities for farmers and ranchers.
Early next week in the Appropriations Subcommittee Section C, (Natural Resources/Transportation) we will hear the Department of Agriculture Budget request: MFU will be supporting the department’s funding requests and the critical services provided, along with the State Grain lab requests.
More bills to come next week and another update of the Rotunda Roundup.
Questions?
Please contact Rachel Prevost at rprevost@montanafarmersunion.com
or Jasmine Krotkov at jkrotkov@montanafarmersunion.com
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Press Information: montanafarmersunion.com/media-press-kit/
MFU President Walter Schweitzer: 406-799-3782
Montana Farmers Union has worked more than 100 years for family farms, ranches, and rural communities. MFU supports its members through: Strong education programs for both youth and adults, by advocating member-driven policies and legislation at the state and federal level, and cooperation through producer-owned co-ops. For more information, visit www.montanafarmersunion.com.
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