Property taxes, raw milk and campaign regulations

Bills that would shorten the property tax reappraisal cycle and revise campaign finance laws were passed by the Montana Legislature, but a bill to allow the sale of raw milk failed to get out of the Senate and a resolution to confirm the appointment of a new political practices commissioner died in the Senate.

• A bill that would shorten the reappraisal cycle for property taxes was approved by the Senate by 34-16 on April 22.

Senate Bill 157, sponsored by Sen. Bruce Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, initially was approved by the Senate by 25-22 on March 28 and then by the House by 63-36 on April 18 after it was amended, forcing it back to the Senate for final approval.

The House Tax Committee voted 17-3 on April 17 to shorten the reappraisal cycles for certain classes of property but keep the six-year cycle for forest lands. Forest industry representatives were opposed to reappraising their timber lands every two years.

By shortening the reappraisal cycle for residential, commercial and agricultural property from six years to two years, the Montana Department of Revenue could focus on needed property tax simplifications and transparency, DOR director Mike Kadas said.

If property values go down, the effect on taxes go into effect immediately, rather than be phased in through various exemptions and tax rate changes.

The Montana Association of Realtors opposed changing the reappraisal cycle for any class of property to two years.

• A bill that would allow the sale of raw milk failed to pass the Senate on April 20 on a tied 20-20 vote.

House Bill 87, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Ballance, R-Hamilton, passed the House by 61-38 on March 25 and was approved by the Senate Finance and Claims Committee by 16-3 on April 16 but ran into a number failed motions and amendments in the Senate.

Sen. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, convinced the Senate on April 20 to take it up one more time, but it failed for the second time on a tied vote. She championed the bill as a personal choice.

“If we choose to drink raw milk and choose to give that to our families, keep the government out of it,” Brown said. “It’s a person’s choice. Let’s vote for freedom, and let’s vote for food choice.”

HB 87 would have allowed owners of small herds of cattle, goats or sheep to sell raw milk or other raw milk products directly to consumers.

The bill would require the small-herd producers to test the milk at least eight times a year and to place warning labels on their products. The products could not be sold in retail outlets.

Opponents said raw milk posed a health hazard and that any outbreak of disease from milk or milk products could harm the dairy and agricultural industry. Opponents also said the bill lacked any enforcement provisions.

• The Republican-controlled Senate State Administration Committee turned down Gov. Steve Bullock’s pick to head up the Montana Office of Political Practices.

Jonathan Motl has headed up the office since he was appointed by Bullock in May 2013 to replace James Murry, who resigned one month earlier.

Senate Resolution 53, sponsored by Sen. Jon Sesso, D-Butte, which would have confirmed Motl’s appointment, was tabled by the Senate committee on April 20.

While Motl was able to whittle down a backlog of more than 100 political practices complaints over the past two years, he took numerous hits from Republicans in the process.

Rep. Art Wittich, R-Bozeman, was one of them, and he spoke against Motl’s appointment on April 20. Wittich claimed Motl launched a “biased political crusade against conservatives and only conservatives.”

Wittich is scheduled to face Motl in court on Feb. 22 for a jury trial  to decide if he had violated campaign practice laws in his 2010 primary race.

Sen. Sue Malek, D-Missoula, disagreed with Wittich’s claim about bias, noting that Motl brought administrative cases against several Democrats in the Missoula area.

Motl also worked on revising the state’s campaign finance laws, which were signed by Gov. Bullock on April 22.

Senate Bill 289, sponsored by Sen. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip, was passed by the House by 51-48 on March 38 and by the Senate by 30-20 on April 15.The bill is aimed at shining the light on dark money contributions in elections.