At the end of May, Governor Gianforte signed HB 321, which will create and, over…
Critical Action Alert! Tell the House Appropriations Committee to Support HB 321
HB 321: Generally revise laws related to the coal trust (create trust to fund CDs) – Sponsored by Rep. Reksten
HB 321 would benefit both CDs and school districts. HB 321 would create a trust for CDs (which would sit within Coal Trust). Over the next 5-6 years, this trust would fill to $100 million dollars, creating a permanent and generational funding source for CDs. This bill is awaiting action in the House Appropriations Committee. It was previously tabled, and then brought after the table and amended to keep it alive. In the next week there will be a move to bring HB 321 for a vote in House Appropriations. CDs and school districts need to do a big push to help move this bill.
ACTION: Please contact ALL members of the House Appropriations Committee and encourage them to SUPPORT HB 321! (You do NOT have to be in their district to reach out. We encourage ALL districts to contact House Appropriations members.)
General talking points:
1. Members who initially voted yes FOR HB 321 – Say thank you and a request continued support of HB 321.
2. Priority for outreach: Members who initially voted NO (to table) HB 321. Please encourage them to SUPPORT HB 321.
- State funding from coal severance tax for conservation districts is (1) not at an adequate level and (2) has been unstable in recent years.
- Finding an adequate, long term, stable funding source that will allow individual Districts to (1) fulfill their mandated duties and (2) address increasing local needs related to land use changes, increasing populations, development, and natural disasters (ex 2022 flooding, 2017 fires, etc). Within the next four years, HB 321 would create a permanent and generational funding solution for district operations This is a once in a generation/lifetime opportunity to create a trust and permanent funding solution for CDs.
- ***SHARE the impact this would have in YOUR DISTRICT. What would stable + increased funding allow your district to work on? What would be the impact for conservation and local communities?
ADDITIONAL ACTION: Please send a letter of support for HB 321 to rebecca@macdnet.org. These district letters will be printed and handed out to Appropriations Committee Members.
Members of the House Appropriations Committee (Click on names for contact info):
| Member | Assignment |
|---|---|
| Llew Jones (R) HD 18 | Chair – voted yes |
| Mary Caferro (D) HD 82 | Vice Chair – voted yes |
| Bob Keenan (R) HD 10 | Vice Chair – voted no |
| David Bedey (R) HD 86 | Member – voted yes |
| Michele Binkley (R) HD 85 | Member – voted yes |
| Terry Falk (R) HD 8 | Member – voted no |
| John Fitzpatrick (R) HD 77 | Member – voted yes |
| Jane Gillette (R) HD 64 | Member – voted no |
| Jim Hamilton (D) HD 61 | Member – voted no |
| Naarah Hastings (R) HD 50 | Member – voted no |
| Lyn Hellegaard (R) HD 97 | Member – voted no |
| Mike Hopkins (R) HD 92 | Member – voted yes |
| Connie Keogh (D) HD 91 | Member – voted no |
| Emma Kerr-Carpenter (D) HD 49 | Member – voted no |
| Bill Mercer (R) HD 46 | Member – voted no |
| Terry Moore (R) HD 54 | Member – voted no |
| Fiona Nave (R) HD 57 | Member – voted no |
| Joe Read (R) HD 93 | Member – voted yes |
| Matt Regier (R) HD 4 | Member – voted no |
| Jerry Schillinger (R) HD 37 | Member – voted no |
| Sharon Stewart Peregoy (D) HD 42 | Member – voted yes |
| Paul Tuss (D) HD 28 | Member – voted no |
| Jonathan Windy Boy (D) HD 32 | Member – voted yes |
| Quinn Holzer | Legislative Branch Staffer |
| Julie Johnson | Legislative Branch Staffer |
| Kathlyn Walker | Secretary |