Dear Editor: Finish with Week II of the Legislature

Dear Editor,

We are now finished with week two of the legislature. It has been very busy and successful. I have had several bills moving within the House and Senate. House Bill 86, the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) reauthorization has passed the House and will be heard in the Senate FWP Committee next week. This bill deals with controlling noxious weeds on large landscapes that support priority wildlife habitats. The Ruby Valley Conservation District has an ongoing project in the upper Ruby, in cooperation with multiple landowners, that has been very successful. It is important that this work continues.

Many of the bills that have been heard in committee and passed on the House floor have been part of the Governor’s Red Tape Initiative, which reduces regulatory burden and makes government more efficient.

Currently, there are 207 bills active in the House, and 33 have been passed to the Senate. There are numerous bills working through the appropriate committees dealing with the record surplus. Thoughtful deliberation warrants time to vet all of the proposals and allow for public input, before sending them to the House floor.

I encourage everyone to keep up and educate yourselves as the bills are quickly moving through the legislature. As always please never hesitate to reach out with questions, comments, and or concerns.

Ken Walsh

Montana HD 71