Back to work after legislative transmittal break

This past week was transmittal week for the Legislature, which is kind of like spring break for Senators. Judy and I spent a couple days enjoying home in Chester and then came back down to Helena, as the Montana State Senate was back in Friday and Saturday. The House was out until Monday, Feb. 11.

I attended a learning session in my tax committee regarding the Senate Bill 239. Sen. Jason Ellsworth’s bill would put a five-year moratorium on new taxes for companies installing new fiber optics cable in the ground.

The bill changed some from the original, but its general intent is to give a tax break to companies installing the new fiber, which will hopefully serve to be a motivator for speeding up the installation process. This is supposed to help get the last outlying areas serviced. The information regarding how all this works came mostly from the companies’ lobbyist, but two CEOs from local co-ops were also available for questions.

Some companies are over 60 percent finished with laying fiber while others are just getting started. The learning session was also for us to gain knowledge around why the companies would need this tax break and what would happen with the money saved. It was explained to us that these tax dollars will be reinvested into cable.

We learned that different types of communication companies, private and co-ops, receive federal funding differently. Some are not eligible to receive federal disbursements, while others are. SB 239 will be voted on this week. I’m not sure how the vote will go and I am personally still reviewing my notes to decide my vote.

In my education committee, bills to recruit and retain teachers in rural schools are coming forward. As you may remember, last session a bill to do that very thing passed. The problem it ran into, however, was that no funding source was ever designated. So, no money, no help. This session, the new recruitment bill would be directed by the Office of Public Instruction with the idea that $500,000 would come from the general fund to pay for it. The bill would put $3,000 tax-free money toward student loans the first year, $4,000 the second, and $5,000 the third.

Have a great week.

——

Sen. Russ Tempel. R-Chester, can be emailed at [email protected]