Advocacy

Chamber Value Statement
The Chamber provides benefits and services that support, enhance and grow healthy businesses. We keep members informed and represent the collective voice of business. Healthy businesses add to our quality of life and the economy. A strong economy attracts economic development and future workforce. The Chamber works collaboratively to strengthen our community.

2021 Legislative Session

The Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce monitored bills introduced in the 2021 Legislative session in Helena. The Government Affairs Director and the Government Affairs Committee regularly discussed proposed legislation and its potential impact on business in Missoula. 

Bills The Chamber Supported

Bills that passed
HB 303 - Business Investment Grows (BIG) Jobs Act – Increased the business equipment tax exemption from $100,000 to $200,000.
HB 252 - Montana Comeback Trades Education and Training Act – Provides non-refundable tax credit to employers who pay trades education tuition for employees. The credit covers 50% of the cost of the training up to $2,000 per employee with a cap of $25,000 per company.
SB 159 - Personal Income Tax Relief Act – Lowers the top personal income tax bracket from 6.9% to 6.75%. (Amended to lower the top personal income tax bracket to 6.5%)
SB 184 - Entrepreneur Magnet Act – Exempts the sale of employee-owned stock from capital gains for businesses relocated to, or started in Montana after Jan. 1, 2021.
SB 161 – Expedited review of some subdivisions – Allows for an expedited review of subdivision applications in municipalities with zoning and infrastructure in place.
HB 340 - Revisions to the MEDIA Act. The original bill would have removed the cap on a film/tv production tax incentive. It was amended in committee to put a cap on the credit at $250 million. It was eventually amended down to a $12 million cap, just $2 million over the previous cap.
HB 624 - This bill created a child care task force at the state level and includes representatives from business as well as two dedicated seats for Chambers of Commerce. This request for support was brought to us by the Funders for Montana’s Children, a collaborative partner we have worked with over the past couple years. The bill was vetoed by the governor.
SB 262 - Revised forest lands taxation advisory committee
SB 263 - Revised forest lands property taxes and rates - This bill and SB 262 are intended to address a decision by the Department of Revenue that would result in up to an 81% increase on property taxes for private forested lands.
HB 701 - This bill directs the money received in taxing recreational marijuana into a number of different accounts, the primary of which is the HEART Fund (Healing and Ending Addiction through Recovery and Treatment) which helps folks struggling to overcome addiction.
HB 397 - Workforce Housing Tax Credit - This bill would have created a state tax credit that mirrored the federal tax credit program for the development and construction of workforce housing. The bill was vetoed by the governor.

Bills that did not pass
HB 21 - The re-authorization of the Multifamily Coal Trust Homes Program - Tabled in committee
SB 182 - Economic Growth Income Tax Rate Trigger Act – Created a system to automatically lower the top personal income tax bracket if certain economic factors are met each year. - Tabled in committee
SB 181 - Corporate Tax Modernization Act – Transitions Montana from a 3-factor corporate license tax to a single-factor, sales based system. - Missed transmittal deadline

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Chamber Advocacy Action Center

Additional Bills currently being monitored

HB 43 - Expanding practice of tele-medicine
HB 79 - Revised definition of beer to include other fermented-style beverages
HB 103 - Revise cooperative laws to provide for remote participation
HB 112 - Require interscholastic athletes to participate under sex assigned at birth
HB 113 - Provide for youth health protection (This bill was voted down on third reading)
HB 121 - Require elected official approval of local health board and officer actions
HB 134 - Allow zoning for duplex, triplex, and fourplex housing in certain municipalities
HB 137 - Generally revise vaping and alternative nicotine products laws
HB 148 - Revise property reappraisal cycle for class three and four property
HB 157 - Generally revise alcohol laws for licensing, brewery shared space
HB 205 - Provide tax credit for employers of volunteer first responders
HB 226 - Generally revise alcohol laws to provide for curbside pickup
HB 234 - Remove sunset on requirement that massage therapy businesses display licenses

HB 252 - Non-refundable tax credit for employer-paid education of trade professions
HB 257 - Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses
HB 259 - Revise property and zoning laws
HB 261 - Constitutional amendment for taxpayer protection act to limit tax types
HB 265 - Phase out use of Styrofoam in food-related businesses
HB 282 - Revise labor laws relating to the employment of minors
HB 284 - Provide living wage
HB 288 - Provide business property tax exemption during state of emergency or disaster
HB 303 - Revise business equipment tax laws: Business Investment Grows (BIG) Jobs Act
SB 91 - Require fiscal notes to include business impact
SB 118 - Revise laws relating to false statements to employers and workers' compensation
SB 142 - Increase the number of children who can be present in day-care homes
SB 161 - Allow certain subdivisions to qualify for an expedited review

Government Affairs Updates

April 9, 2021 - https://conta.cc/3mwWJrX
April 2, 2021 - https://conta.cc/3cKxkrl
March 26, 2021 - https://conta.cc/2Pv0l1f
March 19, 2021 - https://conta.cc/30Z8PQB
March 12, 2021 - https://conta.cc/3vgxyO9
March 5, 2021 - https://conta.cc/385OBZy
February 19, 2021 - https://conta.cc/3bkfRnP
February 12, 2021 - https://conta.cc/3aZtOaG
February 5, 2021 - https://conta.cc/3pPf9EZ
January 2021 - https://conta.cc/3iXWHaC

Chamber Advocacy In The News

Relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in Missoula ease hockey logistics

Businesses: Flavored tobacco ban will harm

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Read the Chamber's letter

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Request Advocacy Support

If you have questions about a government policy/regulation or if there is an issue you feel the Chamber should be involved with through advocacy efforts or educating our membership, contact the Chamber's Director of Government Affairs, Clint Burson. 
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Past Advocacy Issues

Learn more about the Chamber's previous positions on a variety of issues affecting the Missoula Business community.

Advocacy Archive

2018-2019 Policy Guide

The Missoula Area Chamber Of Commerce
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