The City Council usually sets its legislative priorities before each legislative session.  The 2017 session will begin on January 2 and is expected to end on April 25.  Setting priorities helps the City's lobbyist, Ed Bartlett, staff and Councilmembers as they are asked to respond to legislation being planned or after it is introduced.  Some of the anticipated legislative issues were discussed with the Council at its November 7 work session.  The legislative priorities are broader policy statements that encompass the issues that Council discussed and ones that will probably surface during the session.  Mr. Bartlett will attend each work session during the Legislative session, either by phone or in person, to discuss specific bills and what positions the Council would like to take on them.  One of the policy statements is to support, where possible, our local partners' legislative platforms.  The Montana League of Cities and Towns (MLCT) and the Billings Area Chamber of Commerce priorities are attached to this staff report. 

City Council may:

• Approve the 2017 legislative priorities or;
• Modify and approve the priorities, or;
• Disapprove the priorities.  This will hamper Mr. Bartlett's effectiveness because he won't have the broad policy guidance that allows him to work with our Legislators as they propose legislation and attempt to understand how legislation affects the City.   

The policies do not have a direct financial impact.  The FY 2017 Legislative lobbying budget is $45,000.  The Legislature's actions can cost or benefit the City of Billings millions of dollars per year.   

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the City of Billings 2017 Legislative Priorities.