Montana State Senate President has Update on Bills and Bathrooms

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Following Governor Gianforte’s press conference on Thursday, I spoke with Montana State Senate President Matt Regier and got his perspective on issues ranging from property taxes to restrooms at the State Capitol.

Regier said the state will be taking in much more than it needs to operate, and there are many plans to return those funds to the people of Montana.

There are Many Ideas About How to Lower Taxes and Return Money to Montanans

“The last estimates are like $522 million structural positive,” said Regier. “We're taking $522 million into the state that we don't need to operate it. So that's a huge amount that we can give back in tax relief, and the debate is, how do we give it back? I appreciate the governor’s sentiment to give it back. Our House Majority Republicans want to give it back, and we in the Senate here want to give it back. It's just a matter of how.”

Regier praised fellow State Senator Carl Glimm for his efforts to reduce property taxes for Montanans.

Senator Glimm is Working to Pass SB 90

“Senator Glimm out of the Flathead has Senate Bill 90, which would take a lot of the tourist taxes that are paid here, the hotel tax and rental car tax; money that's going to the general fund right now that I'd argue, needs to go back to the locals,” said Regier. “Senate Bill 90 here, what Senator Glimm is doing is taking that money and giving it back as just a line item credit on all Montana primary residents.”

Regier also stood up for Montana residents who own more than one home, who would be penalized by Gianforte’s property tax plan.

“I get it,” he said. “There are a lot of people that use Montana as a playground, and I'm not going to stand up for Justin Timberlake there at Big Sky and try and save him on what he needs to pay, for sure, but with the governor's proposal, there are a lot of Montanans with second homes that could very well be even priced out of those second homes if property taxes jump 35 to 40 percent, and this bill would do that.”

And the Restroom Issue at the State Capitol is Close to a Resolution

Regarding the restroom situation at the State Capitol, Regier said there is a bill to address that issue that is making its way through the legislature.

“The Senate Judiciary is on the screen right now, and they're hearing House Bill 121, sponsored by Kerri Seekins-Crowe out of Billings,” he said. “So we're hearing that bill in Senate right now. It passed out of the house and came over here. Just protects women's private spaces across government buildings across the state. I think it's a straightforward approach and a good start here to not just public safety, but just women's autonomy.”

Click here to find out more about what’s happening in the Montana Legislature.