DUIs, fetal surgery, private school and the budget

The 64th session of the Montana House of Representatives finished day 64 of the 90-day session on Friday, March 27. Some bills of interest to the Flathead Valley that have been heard recently in the House are House Bills 488, 479, 433 and 2.

HB 488 revises current DUI laws. It will require someone who refuses a breath test to pay for the blood draw that is acquired by a warrant. It also would increase the penalty for those convicted of DUI with children in the vehicle. HB 488 passed the House with a 93-6 vote.

HB 479 revises laws regarding fetal surgery. This bill says a person may not perform fetal surgery on an unborn child whose gestational age is 20 or more weeks. It will require, with exceptions, the administering of anesthesia to an unborn child that provides relief from physical pain and suffering. HB 479 passed the House with a 56-43 vote.

HB 333 would allow parents, grandparents or siblings of students in a private school or an out-of-district public school to take an income tax credit for tuition and fees paid for the student. The credit would be up to $1,000. It passed the House with a 53-47 vote.

HB 2 is the bill that appropriates money to various state agencies for the biennium ending June 30, 2017. This bill contains $1.8 billion. That is a 4.3 percent increase over the last biennium. The governor’s proposed budget has a 14.7 percent increase.

The floor debate over HB 2 lasted two days and had 74 amendments offered that totaled $848 million in additional spending. All of those amendments were rejected. HB 2 passed the House with a 59-40 vote.

All of these bills are now in the Senate. You can contact your senator with your view on these bills and other bills by visiting online at www.leg.mt.gov.

Rep. Keith Regier, R-Kalispell, is the House Majority Leader and represents House District 4.