Lobbyists: Agriculture fared well in Helena

Agriculture fared well in the 63rd Montana Legislative Session, with some wins on tax and wildlife bills, according to Montana Farm Bureau lobbyists John Youngberg and Nicole Rolf. 

“All in all, I’d say some good bills were passed that will help farmers and ranchers,” Youngberg said. “We were pleased that the wolf management bill that liberalized the hunting of wolves was signed by the governor.”

Other victories for farmers and ranchers this session included passage of the revised business equipment tax relief bill and the defeat of the “corner crossing” bill.

“The business equipment tax relief bill passed the House and Senate but hasn’t been acted on yet by the governor,” Rolf said. “The bill that came out at the end of the session is a combination of two bills. It creates an exemption of $100,000 and lowers the tax rate to 1.5 percent on any equipment over the $100,000 exemption level and up to $6 million in market value. This provides some tax relief to the vast majority of farmers and ranchers while fitting in the budget.”

Rolf praised the defeat of the “corner crossing” bill, which would have allowed trespassing across the corners of private land to access public land.

“This bill would have eroded private property rights, so it was rewarding to see it defeated,” she said.

Water bills flowed freely.

“There were numerous bills affecting senior water rights,” Youngberg said. “We had a bill pass that allows for water development in closed basins yet protects senior rights, and a bill that will allow people who were exempt from filing on small appropriations to get into the system. Another good bill allows people with water rights to offer short-term water leases to provide water for development projects, such as hydraulic fracking, but only short-term.”

Youngberg said a bill was defeated that would have forced the new workers compensation fund to pick up a $60 million debt from the old fund without raising rates.

“It’s a bad idea because when the legislature tries to control rates without reviewing actuarial information, there’s a potential to jeopardize the entire program,” he said.

All told, it was generally a good session for the Montana Farm Bureau, Youngberg said.

“But it’s becoming more difficult because we have fewer and fewer boots under the desks,” he said. “Many of the new legislators coming into office don’t understand water rights, prior appropriations and other issues that really affect agriculture.”