Protecting Montana's future

This past Friday was the 68th Legislative Day in Helena. We have 90 days per session to accomplish all we set out to do at the legislature, so that means we are quickly approaching the end of the session. But I am proud of what we have accomplished so far.

This past week, the Senate passed House Bill 2, which is the bill that decides the state budget. The budget is split into separate sections, A through E. I presided over the debate and passage of Section A. Section A funds the legislative branch and all the essential parts of the state government that fulfill their essential duties in serving Montanans in every corner of the state.

The Montana Constitution requires the legislature to pass a balanced budget. It’s our duty to protect the taxpayer by balancing our budget every session, and this session was no different.

But we didn’t just pass a balanced budget. Senate Republicans were committed to passing a responsible, fiscally conservative budget that will limit the size of government while also enabling tax relief for hardworking Montanans all across the state. The budget that we passed is actually a more conservative approach than originally proposed by the governor’s office and will go a long way in helping our state bounce back from this pandemic and get the economy going again.

In the coming weeks before the session’s end, I have four of my bills that will soon hit the House floor for debate. I am confident they will pass. Then they will be sent to the governor and hopefully be signed into law.

Senate Bill 249 is of keen importance to the well-being of District 17, our farmers and ranchers, and Montana energy. SB 249 balances protecting sage grouse with ensuring the health of our local economy we must guarantee environmentalists cannot disrupt or prevent agricultural operations, natural gas development, oil drilling or livestock grazing from happening on our lands.

Senate Bill 306 revives the fish and game commission structure by making it a seven-member commission instead of only five. The bill also revises the commission’s structure by changing the districts from where each member is selected. This change includes at least two landowners and will make the commission more representative of Montana and more responsive to Montanans’ local needs.

Senate Bill 338 is liability protection for a landowner, whether your yard in town or your field or pasture in the country, owes a trespasser no duty of care with respect to the condition of the property

Finally, Senate Bill 307 protects irrigation operators by ensuring operators of irrigation ditches and all similar structures are kept in good working operation and present no danger. The bill also protects those injured or killed or who have an animal injured or killed.

With the first Republican governor in 16 years, this session has been incredibly productive. We have finally seen many of our conservative priorities become law, and the Montana Comeback Plan is well underway.

Even though the end of the session is almost here, I encourage all my constituents to get involved and reach out to make their voices heard. Contact me at 406-654-7357 or [email protected].

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Sen. Mike Lang, R-Malta, represents Senate District 17.