Montana Legislative Session off to a different start in 2021
Author
Published
1/11/2021
The 67th Montana Legislature convened Monday, Jan. 4 in Helena. For those who follow the process from home, this year’s mixed-format session, or “hybrid” as they are calling it, will offer an opportunity for remote and virtual participation in the lawmaking process. In addition to giving legislators the choice between participating in person or from a remote location at which they feel safe, the option to testify through electronic means opens the doors for farmers and ranchers from remote corners of our state to participate, regardless of winter feeding, calving or inclement weather. In this, our first weekly Boots on the Hill column, we’ll outline how you can participate and how you can keep in touch with throughout the session.
For us, your Montana Farm Bureau lobbyists working in Helena, this session comes with many changes. COVID-19-related precautions mean each committee will meet a little differently than usual, but they have put protocols in place to carry out the important work of the people and still allow public input. Depending on the size of the room in which the committee meets, they may allow a limited number of non-committee members into the room to testify and watch from the audience in socially distanced chairs. In smaller meeting rooms, members of the public are allowed inside to testify and then exit the room because limited space does not allow seating. Committees are also hearing testimony virtually. Committee members themselves are spread further apart in the room, and some legislators are choosing to participate virtually, but their pictures appear on a screen and they can interact with the rest of the committee, similar to how they would interact in person. Regardless of how, everyone from legislators to the public understands how important this work is and is ready to do it!
We spent a good deal of time this week learning the new “lay of the land” and figuring out how to use the technology and balance in-person participation. We feel passionately about doing everything we can to represent the farmer and rancher members of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation so we will be in Helena, participating in-person as much as possible, following safety protocols, and communicating the agriculture message to all.
Much of the legislative process remains the same, especially for folks who do not usually spend time in Helena. Anyone can visit the Legislative webpage, leg.mt.gov/, to find a listing of your elected officials, to view all the bills that have been introduced and to track where the bills are in the legislative process. What’s unique this year is the button in the middle of the website’s home page: “Request to testify remotely/testify remotely.” Though this portal, you can locate the bill you are interested in following and submit written testimony or schedule a virtual testimony. These must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. You can also call the Legislative Hotline to leave messages for legislators at (406) 444-4800.
What hasn’t changed at all is the importance of your involvement and engagement in the legislative process. The legislators who represent your house or senate district want and need to hear from you. Their phone numbers and email addresses are listed at leg.mt.gov, and now is the perfect time to reach out and introduce yourself. A simple email to your elected official that briefly reads,
This simple introduction goes a long way when you want to talk to your legislator about an important ag issue later in the session. While it is important to have a relationship with your own legislators, they may not be on the committee that most pertains to issues you care about. You may wish to familiarize yourself with legislators who serve on relevant committees including but not limited to: agriculture, natural resources, fish and wildlife and taxation.
We have started tracking bills and testifying on behalf of our farming and ranching members. Each week for the next 90 days, you can look for our update on bills we’re working, as directed by the Farm Bureau member-written policy we represent. MFBF members will receive weekly email updates on all of the bills we are working, the policy we use to support or oppose them, and their progress through the Session. We’ll also provide print newsletters approximately monthly. If you are not a Farm Bureau member, we’d encourage you to join by visiting our website: www.mfbf.org, or talking to a local member who can help get you signed up.
Here’s the first bill we’re supporting this Session:
Learn more at www.mfbf.org or follow our Live with Your Lobbyist broadcast each Friday on our Montana Farm Bureau Facebook Page.
Nicole Rolf is the Director of National Affairs and a rancher from Miles City, Montana. Nicole works closely with our Congressional delegation on national issues affecting Montana agriculture. Additionally, this is her seventh Montana Legislative Session, lobbying in Helena on behalf of MFBF members. She also works as the Eastern Montana Regional Manager. Nicole can be contacted at nicoler@mfbf.org.
Rachel Cone is the Director of State Affairs for Montana Farm Bureau Federation. She also coordinates the MFBF Water Committee, the Resource Management, Environment and Technology Committee and the Livestock Committee in addition to being the Treasurer for the Farm Bureau PAC. Rachel can be contacted at rachelc@mfbf.org.
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation is a non-partisan, non-profit, grassroots organization that represents 20,000 member families in Montana.
For us, your Montana Farm Bureau lobbyists working in Helena, this session comes with many changes. COVID-19-related precautions mean each committee will meet a little differently than usual, but they have put protocols in place to carry out the important work of the people and still allow public input. Depending on the size of the room in which the committee meets, they may allow a limited number of non-committee members into the room to testify and watch from the audience in socially distanced chairs. In smaller meeting rooms, members of the public are allowed inside to testify and then exit the room because limited space does not allow seating. Committees are also hearing testimony virtually. Committee members themselves are spread further apart in the room, and some legislators are choosing to participate virtually, but their pictures appear on a screen and they can interact with the rest of the committee, similar to how they would interact in person. Regardless of how, everyone from legislators to the public understands how important this work is and is ready to do it!
We spent a good deal of time this week learning the new “lay of the land” and figuring out how to use the technology and balance in-person participation. We feel passionately about doing everything we can to represent the farmer and rancher members of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation so we will be in Helena, participating in-person as much as possible, following safety protocols, and communicating the agriculture message to all.
Much of the legislative process remains the same, especially for folks who do not usually spend time in Helena. Anyone can visit the Legislative webpage, leg.mt.gov/, to find a listing of your elected officials, to view all the bills that have been introduced and to track where the bills are in the legislative process. What’s unique this year is the button in the middle of the website’s home page: “Request to testify remotely/testify remotely.” Though this portal, you can locate the bill you are interested in following and submit written testimony or schedule a virtual testimony. These must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. You can also call the Legislative Hotline to leave messages for legislators at (406) 444-4800.
What hasn’t changed at all is the importance of your involvement and engagement in the legislative process. The legislators who represent your house or senate district want and need to hear from you. Their phone numbers and email addresses are listed at leg.mt.gov, and now is the perfect time to reach out and introduce yourself. A simple email to your elected official that briefly reads,
“Hello Sen. XXX, I’m a constituent in your senate district XX. Thank you for representing me and our community, especially in these challenging circumstances. I’m a cattle rancher and sugar beet farmer, and I’m interested in legislation that relates to agriculture, natural resources and wildlife. I look forward to keeping in touch throughout the session and I am available for questions or comments that pertain to our community.”
This simple introduction goes a long way when you want to talk to your legislator about an important ag issue later in the session. While it is important to have a relationship with your own legislators, they may not be on the committee that most pertains to issues you care about. You may wish to familiarize yourself with legislators who serve on relevant committees including but not limited to: agriculture, natural resources, fish and wildlife and taxation.
We have started tracking bills and testifying on behalf of our farming and ranching members. Each week for the next 90 days, you can look for our update on bills we’re working, as directed by the Farm Bureau member-written policy we represent. MFBF members will receive weekly email updates on all of the bills we are working, the policy we use to support or oppose them, and their progress through the Session. We’ll also provide print newsletters approximately monthly. If you are not a Farm Bureau member, we’d encourage you to join by visiting our website: www.mfbf.org, or talking to a local member who can help get you signed up.
Here’s the first bill we’re supporting this Session:
Senate Bill 65: Revise civil liability laws, introduced by Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick (R), SD10. Farm Bureau member policy supports. This bill limits liability to the owners of a premise if a person comes there and is infected with COVID-19, as long as that owner was not negligent. This bill is primarily intended to protect business owners, which would of course include farms and ranches.
Learn more at www.mfbf.org or follow our Live with Your Lobbyist broadcast each Friday on our Montana Farm Bureau Facebook Page.
Nicole Rolf is the Director of National Affairs and a rancher from Miles City, Montana. Nicole works closely with our Congressional delegation on national issues affecting Montana agriculture. Additionally, this is her seventh Montana Legislative Session, lobbying in Helena on behalf of MFBF members. She also works as the Eastern Montana Regional Manager. Nicole can be contacted at nicoler@mfbf.org.
Rachel Cone is the Director of State Affairs for Montana Farm Bureau Federation. She also coordinates the MFBF Water Committee, the Resource Management, Environment and Technology Committee and the Livestock Committee in addition to being the Treasurer for the Farm Bureau PAC. Rachel can be contacted at rachelc@mfbf.org.
The Montana Farm Bureau Federation is a non-partisan, non-profit, grassroots organization that represents 20,000 member families in Montana.
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