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Rotunda Roundup
from Montana Farmers Union
Legislative Update for
March 24th - 28th
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.
Action Alert Update
HB 119 - Establish MT Cattle Committee: second beef check-off in the works.
The Senate Agriculture committee did a work session
You can watch the work session here.
The numerous amendments being brought forth exemplify why the bill is not ready for implementation. After many organizations voiced amendments they'd like to see during the work session, the Senate Ag Committee is likely to vote on HB 119 next week. MFU is opposed to the bill as written. The bill provides for a politically appointed committee that would collect an assessment fee of $1 from Montana.
Cattle producers upon a referendum vote.
Read our analysis and bill updates here:
https://montanafarmersunion.com/hb-119-second-beef-check-off/
Click below to let legislators know a politically appointed committee in control of an extra assessment isn't necessary.
Tell the Senate Ag Committee to reject HB 119
Click here Tell the Governor and Lt. Governor you have concerns with HB 119
-Some additional highlights from this week-
SB 371 – An Act Providing Tax Incentives for the Sale of Montana-produced Goods; Providing a Subtraction from Individual Income and Corporate Income Taxes for the Income from Montana-Produced goods, sponsored by Sen. Cora Neumann. This bill provides an incentive opportunity for retailers to stock Montana-produced goods on their shelves, providing a subtraction from individual income and corporate income taxes for the income from Montana-Produced goods. This is completely voluntary for retailers. More competition in the marketplace is good for consumers and producers. Corporate control and influence hinders competitive opportunity for Montana producers to gain shelf and market access.
Status & Next Steps: The bill was heard in the Senate Tax Committee on March 25. The bill has stalled with a 4-4 tie vote in the committee. The bill has been tabled, as of March 28.
SB 246 – Provide for Montana First Procurement laws and establish reporting requirements, sponsored by Sen. Cora Neumann. MFU supports SB 246 The bill provides a reporting requirement for contracts for the procurement of food products by a governmental body with a total contract value of $100,000 or more. SB 246 is a great starting place to gain an understanding of how Montana taxpayer dollars are used for procurement with our large state institutional contracts (think food for the state hospital, Department of Corrections, University systems, etc). This reporting will help us know how much of that is local Montana food so farmers and ranchers understand better how to market to and serve institutions in Montana.
Status & Next Steps: The bill has passed out of the House State Administration committee and will move to the House Floor for 2nd reading soon. You can send a note to your House Rep today, asking them to vote Yes on SB 246 using this letter.
HB 830 - Create a local emergency quick response funding program, sponsored by Rep. Jane Weber. MFU supports HB 830. Montana farmers and ranchers constantly work under unpredictable circumstances. When natural disaster strikes, farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to get livestock to safety, water, and corralled – but loss of infrastructure and limited funds can be a roadblock to ensuring this. These natural disasters, such as fires, floods, and massive wind/extreme storms, can ruin infrastructure that ranchers and farmers depend on to keep cattle in pastures and out of neighbors’ lands. The bill provides the opportunity for agricultural producers to work with our already established conservation districts to administer the local emergency quick response funding programming for emergency fixes.
Status and Next Steps: The bill was heard in the House Local Government Committee on March 25 and unfortunately tabled.
HB 560 - Establish the Montana hunters and anglers community fund, sponsored by Rep. Tom France. MFU supports HB 560. The bill provides a community fund to which persons may donate $1 or more above the price of a wildlife conservation license purchased. MFU feels this bill will have a positive multiplier effect in terms of its investment for rural communities through the grant program. These rural communities provide the services that these hunters and anglers utilize, so it’s critical the grant funds are specific to rural communities, which the bill requires. And that the advisory committee in the bill has rural representation which is critical when expending these grant funds.
Status and Next Steps: The bill was heard in the Senate Finance and Claims committee on March 25 and tabled.
HB 860 – Provide for veterinary training loan program, sponsored by Rep. Randyn Gregg. Montana Farmers Union supports HB 860. The bill sets up a loan program for vet students who commit to practicing in underserved areas in Montana, as well as a preference for applicants who are Montana residents. Veterinarians play a key role in ranching and animal health. The job comes with high levels of stress and expense, and doing what we can as a state to support and help bring veterinarians to our rural communities is a priority. MFU supports funding for education, training, apprenticeships, and startup funding for large animal vets and vet technicians.
Status and Next Steps: The bill was heard in the House Education committee on March 28.
HB 739 – Revise laws for agricultural vehicles on the highway, sponsored by Rep. Ed Byrne. MFU is supportive of HB 739. The bill revises laws to indicate that traffic on the highway shall slow down when approaching an agricultural vehicle, and that the operator of the agricultural vehicle will turn off the roadway where a sufficient and safe turnout exists when a line of traffic has built up behind the ag vehicle.
Status and Next Steps: The bill was heard in the Senate Highways and Transportation committee on March 24. The bill will be voted on by the committee soon.
SB 188 – Revising solar energy policy laws, sponsored by Sen. Chris Pope. SB 188 would provide opportunity and relief for Montanans who are feeling the impacts of rising energy costs with even higher rates possible in the future. Right now, many Montanans don’t have the freedom to choose the energy they want. SB 188 would update our laws so that everyone – businesses, homeowners, and renters – could enjoy the benefits of solar technology. MFU has identified that partnering with rural communities and utilities to increase use of renewable energy is important, and we think this bill is a good step in the right direction.
Status and Next Steps: The bill was heard in the House Energy, Technology, and Federal Relations Committee. The committee will vote on the bill soon.
MFU opposed two bills related to sales tax implementation, both sponsored by Rep. Brad Barker
- HB 841: Constitutional amendment to use sales tax revenue for education
- HB 842: Legislative referendum on sales tax to fund education
MFU opposed both bills, and opposes any general sales tax at either the state or federal level. The burden of a statewide sales tax will be harmful to rural Montana residents and communities. Lower-income households will end up spending more of their income, than a higher-income household, on a sales tax. The Legislature has siphoned away funding from rural public schools for charter schools that do not benefit or serve rural communities. MFU urges full funding of public education. A stateweide sales tax is not the right approach for rural Montanans.
Status and Next Steps: Both bills were heard in the House Taxation committee on March 26. Both bills have been tabled in the House Taxation committee.
We will continue to track bills that impact family farms and ranches and rural communities and keep you informed.
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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