Bullock jobs bill tabled in legislative committee

HELENA (AP) — A Republican-led committee is rejecting Gov. Steve Bullock's plan to increase the mandatory hiring percentage of Montana workers on public-works projects in the state.

The House Business and Labor Committee tabled House Bill 490 Thursday with an 11-9 vote.

The measure would have required that at least 75 percent of the laborers on state or local projects be Montana residents. The current requirement is 50 percent.

Democratic Rep. Amanda Curtis of Butte is carrying the bill for the governor. She told the House panel that neighboring states have even more stringent mandates.

Idaho requires that 95 percent of public-works laborers are state residents. Wyoming and North Dakota have similar measures.

The Montana Contractors Association backed the measure during a Wednesday news conference.