2021 Legislative Update: Week 2

Below is a quick recap of bills Grow MT is supporting, watching, and action alerts. Virtual testimony will be available during the session and more information on that can be found HERE.

LC1256: State Soil Health Study Bill

This bill would create a subcommittee within the Environmental Quality Council Interim Committee to study how the state might promote and support soil health. It is sponsored by Senator Pat Flowers.

The draft (LC1256) is not yet available on the legislative website, and no committee hearing scheduled. Next steps are to identify co-sponsor(s), get constituencies to contact their senator and representative in support of the study.

Next Steps & Opportunity for Action:
The fact sheet about this bill is on the Grow Montana website HERE . Contact your senator and representative in support of the bill. You can find your legislator by address or name HERE. Consider asking your agricultural organization to actively support the bill.

LC0640: Double SNAP Dollars Bill

The draft bill text (LC0640) is available on the leg.mt.gov Bill Look Up. 
Montana Food Bank Network is the lead on this bill and Rep. Tom Welch is the sponsor for the bill.

Next Steps & Opportunities for Action: 
Montana Food Bank Network is seeking individuals who would be interested in testifying for this bill once a hearing is scheduled. If you know of someone who would be a good candidate, please have them contact Maura at maurah@ncat.org so I can pass on their information to the Policy team at MFBN.

HB69: Eliminate the reduced-price category for school meals.

HB69 would eliminate the reduced-price co-pays for school meals (so reduced price kids would get school meals for free).  Montana Food Bank Network is supporting this bill. Language of the bill can be found here: http://leg.mt.gov/bills/2021/billpdf/HB0069.pd

HB 69 is sponsored by Rep. Wendy McKamey and HERE is the fact sheet for the bill.

Action Aler​t! 
A hearing has been scheduled for 1/20/21 in House Education. MFBN will be testifying virtually.

Hearing details: 1/20/21/ 3PM House Education Committee

You can send an email directly to the House Education Committee by visiting MFBN’s Online Campaign at https://p2a.co/YL6N71W

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Bill

The COOL Bill sponsored by Rep. Frank Smith is still with Legislative Services. A bill number has not been assigned at this time.