SB 416 passed out of the Senate last Tuesday with a 47-3 vote. The bill calls for spending $50 million in cash, $50 million in bonding proceeds, and $50 million in authority for cities and counties to borrow money from state Board of Investments over the next two years. Under the bill, this money could be spent on drinking water systems, wastewater treatment, sanitary sewer or storm sewer systems, solid waste disposal, local roads and bridges. The bill will have a hearing in Appropriations on April 13th. This bill appears to be a good compromise that may have enough support to get much needed funding for infrastructure projects.
SB 353 and 354 had a hearing on April 1st. These bills would reallocate money from the Coal Trust for infrastructure. It does not appear that the legislation has enough votes to make it out of committee.
| MSE/ASCE/ASHRAE 2015 Bill List | |||
| HB 5 | Rep Jeff Wellborn | Provide for intrastructure development | Missed Appropriation Bill Transmittal |
| HB 63 | Rep Kathy Swanson | Revise licensing/regulation of engineers and land surveyors | Signed by the Governor |
| HB 97 | Rep Edith McClafferty | Revise alternative contracting process | 3rd Reading failed |
| SB 145 | Sen Bradley Hamlett | Revise allocation of oil and gas revenue for oil and natural gas impact projects | Hearing 4/08 in Appropriations |
| HB 224 | Rep Zac Perry | Generally revise building code program laws | Tabled in committee |
| HB 312 | Rep Nancy Wilson | Require MDT to consider growth policies and neighborhood plans | Tabled in committee |
| SB 205 | Sen Robyn Driscoll | Provide for the Hire Montana First Act | Tabled in committee |
| SB 353 | Sen Rick Ripley | Constitutional referendum to divert coal trust and create Build Montana program | In Committee |
| SB 354 | Sen Rick Ripley | Create infrastructure funding program | In Committee |
| SB 416 | Sen John Brenden | Provide for statewide infrastructure | Hearing 4/13 in Appropriations |