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Rotunda Roundup
from Montana Farmers Union
Legislative Update for
Jan. 27 - 31st
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.
This week, we saw a range of legislation from Medicaid Expansion to cuts to the marketing dollars for made in Montana program and Montana agritourism grants, along with modernization for livestock transportation documents, among many other bills that we are monitoring.
High Level Action Alert: Urge House Appropriations to send HB 119 back to the drawing board.
HB 119 - Establish MT Cattle Committee: second beef check-off in the works.
The House Agriculture committee passed the bill 10-7 out of the committee following one amendment being added to the bill. The bill had a hearing in the House Appropriations committee on Thursday, Jan. 30. regarding the fiscal impact. MFU is still currently opposed to the bill. You can read analysis and MFU’s concerns here. The bill provides for a politically appointed committee that would collect an assessment fee of $1 from Montana Cattle producers upon a referendum vote.
Status & Next Steps: The House Appropriations Committee will vote on the bill Monday, Feb 3. We are asking members of the House Appropriations committee to vote no.
Reach out and make your voice heard today. Click here and take action today!
Some Highlights from this Week
Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and MSU-Extension budget requests were heard in Appropriations Subcommittee Section E (Education), MFU urged full funding for the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station requests (MAES) and the Montana State University Extension service requests. Research being done at MAES facilities provide critical information to help Montana farmers and ranchers stay competitive and resilient when it comes to crop varieties and livestock. From on the ground support for farmers and ranchers through Soil Health testing and education, Pesticide application education, Crop seminars, as well as youth development and rural leadership opportunities through programs like Montana 4-H, MSU-Extension is essential in our state. MFU also supported the budget appropriation request for the State Grain lab heating system.
Status & Next steps: The committee will continue to work through agency budgets and take executive action later in February.
HB 129 - Provide income tax benefit to support emergency response volunteers sponsored by Rep. Llew Jones, Heard in the House Appropriations committee on Thursday, Jan 30. MFU once again supported HB 129. The bill provides an income tax benefit for volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency care providers. MFU is deeply invested in supporting our rural EMS providers and doing what we can to support them.
Status & Next steps: The committee will vote on the bill next. Upon passage it will return to the House floor for 3rd reading.
SB 188: Revising solar energy policy laws – Implement Montana Shared solarSponsored by Sen. Chris Pope and heard on Thursday, Jan. 30 in the Senate Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee. MFU supported SB 188. The bill would enable opportunity for Montanans who are feeling the impacts of rising energy costs the freedom to choose the energy they want. SB 188 would allow multiple households, buildings, or businesses to access more affordable energy by purchasing individual shares of a single solar array. SB 188 would update our laws so that everyone – businesses, homeowners, and renters – could enjoy the benefits of solar technology if they so choose.
Status and Next Steps: The committee will vote on the bill soon.
HB 269: Eliminate the organic commodity advisory council, sponsored by Rep. Eric Tilleman Heard in the House Ag Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 28, MFU opposed the bill, as there are some amendments that need to be made to alleviate concerns. The bill eliminates the advisory council that helped to get the State’s organic certification program set up. Concerns were raised as the bill would allow the department to cut the certification program if there were budget issues. Rather than cut the program if budgetary issues arise, we would like to see amendments that add a certification fee for producers to keep the program functioning rather than cutting it. A loss of Montana’s certification program would mean Montana organic producers would need to depend on private certification programs that are not based in Montana leading to long wait times. Further, with the removal of the advisory council, we would like to see amendments that the Department of Agriculture will seek input from the Montana Organic Association, producers, handlers and processors and others in the community on a quarterly basis.
Status and Next Steps: The committee will consider amendments to the bill next week to address these concerns, and then vote on the bill.
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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