By HDN Staff
Montana's lawmakers were called to Helena this week for a special session that was originally called to focus on economic development and possibly tax relief.
House Bill 4 includes homeowner property tax relief, money for public schools and reimbursements to local governments for money they lost because of previous tax cuts enacted by the Legislature.
The House and Senate approved the bill before adjourning Thursday night. Senate approval of the bill was unanimous. It passed the House 96-3.
Gov. Marc Racicot said he is pleased with the major property tax relief bill passed by the Legislature in the final hours of the extra session.
In the process, the lawmakers also debated issues ranging from social security numbers on licenses to banning game farms. Some issues made headway in the extra session while others bogged down during the week's hearings.
The full 2001 session will begin in about eight months and that will be the best time for the lawmakers to tackle these specialty issues.
Congratulations to our elected officials for working so efficiently. Hopefully, this will be only the beginning of a solid working relationship in the 2001 Legislature.
