Trapping, resort tax increase, and new crime lab

Bills that would strengthen protections for trappers, allow resort towns to increase their local sales tax, pay for a new crime lab and raise funds for Broadband had mixed results in the Montana Legislature this past week.

• Two bills that would enshrine trapping as a part of the Montana heritage are winding their way through the legislature this year.

House Bill 212, sponsored by Rep. Kirk Wagoner, R-Montana City, calls for reaffirming that trapping is a form of hunting protected under the Montana Constitution. It passed the House by 64-35 on Feb. 3 and the Senate by 29-21 on March 9 and was transmitted to the governor for his signature on March 12.

Senate Bill 334, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, calls for revising definitions of game animals and predatory animals. Badgers, red foxes and raccoon would be added to the predatory list. The bill passed the Senate by 30-20 on Feb. 25 and was sent to the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee.

• A bill that would allow Montana resort communities to collect up to 4 percent in sales tax from certain consumer goods passed the House by 54-45 on a third reading on March 13.

House Bill 262, sponsored by Rep. Kerry White, R-Bozeman, calls for increasing the resort tax cap from 3 percent to 4 percent so long as the additional revenue is spent on historic renovation or workforce housing. The bill was sent to the Senate Taxation Committee.

The city of Whitefish currently has a 2 percent resort tax but will bring a proposal to the voters to raise the tax to 3 percent in order to finance a conservation easement in the Haskill Basin area. A 1 percent increase could net Whitefish about $968,000 per year.

White said the proposal originated in West Yellowstone, where residents are looking for ways to pay for the preservation of an historical railroad station.

A resort tax is an option tax, meaning it’s up to the voters to decide if they want it, what can be taxed and how the money would be spent.

• A bill that would pay for setting up a crime lab in Eastern Montana was tabled in the House Appropriations Committee on March 24.

Sponsored by Rep. Dale Mortensen, R-Billings, House Bill 512 would appropriate $5.8 million to build a crime lab in Billings or up to $340,000 to lease a facility and provide up to $1.8 million in salaries.

Supporters said requiring Eastern Montana law enforcement to drive to the current crime lab in Missoula was inefficient. They also said the workload in Missoula had increased from 5,300 cases per year in 2010 to 8,100 last year.

• A bill that calls for the sale of $14 million in bonds to help expand the Internet, phone and cable TV services to isolated communities was sent to the House Appropriations Committee.

House Bill 14 was sponsored by Rep. Kelly McCarthy, D-Billings on behalf of Gov. Steve Bullock. It would provide one half the funding for a Broadband project, up to $2.5 million, through state grants.

Supporters said Internet access is vital to participation in the 21st century and will help isolated communities benefit from library access.