The Council will discuss the upcoming 2021 legislative session with our staff and lobbyist Greg Dorrington and Aimee Grmoljez and we also recommend scheduling a legislative meet and greet meeting for Tuesday, November 10 at 5:30 via Zoom.

 

The 2021 Montana Legislative session will begin in approximately 90 days.  The City has extended its contract with Greg Dorrington and Aimee Grmoljez to assist the city in our lobbying efforts for the upcoming session.  Greg and Aimee will be joining Monday's meeting to share their perspectives on the Local Government and Revenue Sub Committees work since the 2019 session.  We will also discuss their outlook for the upcoming session, our partnerships with the Montana League of Cities and Towns (MLCT) and the Montana Infrastructure Coalition (MIC).  I have also provided the Council's 2019 Legislative Agenda for your review as we develop our priorities for the 2021 session.

During last weeks MLCT annual conference, the membership approved the attached legislative platform for the session.

Chief St John, Greg Dorrington and I have held two zoom calls with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Law and Justice committee (Barry Usher and Kathy Kelker) to build relationships, discuss issues and any anticipated legislation.

We have also received inquiries from two local legislators and one of the state of Montana's legislative analysts regarding the City's various districts.  Once the information is collected, we will share it with the Council and our lobbyist team as we prepare for the session.  

We suggest scheduling a zoom meeting for November 10 at 5:30 for all legislators who are elected to represent the citizens of Billings during the 2021 session.  The meeting will focus on introductions and the city summarizing its legislative priorities. 

The 2019 Legislative Agenda focused on five primary goals:

• Enhance public safety and security;
• Support self-governing powers;
• Facilitate sustainable economic development and vitality of the City and surrounding region;
• Increase investments in critical infrastructure to support our local economy; and
• Lower the tax burden on property owners, supporting programs where users of government services pay for those services.

City Council adopted the following priorities for the 2019 Legislative Session:

1. Support legislation that will encourage and facilitate public and private investment in the City of Billings, including, but not limited to the One Big Sky District project;
2. Support legislation that increases investments in infrastructure critical to supporting our economy;
3. Support legislation to shift the tax burden from Billings property owners to users of government services, where appropriate;
4. Support legislation that provides for and enhances the safety, health and security of Billings residents, including combating human trafficking, reducing the sale and distribution of illegal drugs, fighting drug abuse and associated crime, reducing homelessness and providing resources for mental health services;
5. Support, in general, the Montana League of Cities and Towns (MLCT) Legislative Resolutions; and
6. Support, in general, the Montana Infrastructure Coalition's (MIC) Legislative Agenda.

Does the Council want to adopt a similar platform for the 2021 Session?
 

City Council may:

• Create a set of legislative priorities for the 2021 session that are similar to those adopted for 2019 or 
• Chose to primarily play defense, limiting the resources we spend during the session.

The fiscal effects of the legislative session are unknown.  We expect the COVID 19 Pandemic and its effects on the health of our citizens and economy over the short and long term will be the primary focus of the 2021 session.