Senator Becky Beard (SD 38): An Update to My Constituents

The Montana Senate has been hard at work passing numerous pieces of legislation ahead of our March 7th deadline to transmit general bills to our House colleagues. Senate Republicans remain focused on delivering tax relief, promoting educational excellence, protecting private property rights, reforming our courts, and protecting vulnerable Montanans. We will make further headway on critical issues as the legislative session continues.

A couple of bills I sponsored this session have already been transmitted to the House for further consideration, including Senate Bill 215, which would revise school funding laws, promote student achievement, and bolster transparency. Senate Bill 101, the Stop Squatters Act, has also been sent to the House; I’m working with House counterparts to ensure this bill, which protects Montana homeowners against squatters, makes its way to the Governor’s desk.

However, another one of my bills, Senate Bill 146, got blocked in the Senate. Nevertheless, I’m committed to working on the legislation – dubbed the Private Property Protection Act – in coordination with stakeholders. Work continues on Senate Bill 263, which also revises statutes related to state ownership of water rights and safeguards private water rights.

Lawmakers have started to consider a number of bills from the Governor’s property tax task force, in addition to other tax relief measures. We’re also pressing forward with related bills to define local government mill levies' parameters better.

Additionally, I’m progressing on SB 100, the Senior Care Facility Access and Stabilization Act, which strives to make assisted living, in-home services, and nursing home care more cost-effective. The bill follows a commitment I made to address this issue during the last session.

Overall, my goals remain the same this session: to minimize government and tax burdens while promoting the success of Montana’s schools, economy, and rule of law.

It is my continued honor and privilege to serve the voters of Senate District 38 and people across the state. You can track bills being heard this session on the official legislative website, http://www.legmt.gov. I also encourage anyone to reach out to me to talk about the issues closest to you.