Memorandum
REPORT TO:
City Commission
FROM:
Jesse DiTommaso, Economic Development Coordinator
Brit Fontenot, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT:
70th Session of the Montana State Legislature Special Presentation
MEETING DATE:
October 6, 2026
AGENDA ITEM TYPE:
Plan/Report/Study
RECOMMENDATION:
The special presentation is an opportunity to learn about the upcoming legislative session. Questions are encouraged.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
BACKGROUND:
The 70th Session of the Montana State Legislature convenes in January 2027. The citizen-led legislature meets on a biannual schedule for 90 days of legislative business, generally from January to April.
City staff works with a contract lobbyist in Helena. Central House Strategies was selected through a competitive RFP process to assist with legislative services in the interim and during session. Staff has established a framework to prioritize resources on bills that will impact city operations and service delivery. As there is no formal legislative program at the City of Bozeman, staff focuses on how introduced bills impact day-to-day operations and service delivery. This framework allows staff to organize a response to bills without having to predict what specific bills may be introduced.
Throughout the session, city staff from relevant departments reviews bills available via a bill tracking software. The software asks staff to explain what the bill will do if passed and to prioritize the bill on a scale from 1-5. Prioritization is as follows:
Impacts on Existing City Operations: The bills in this category, if passed, may have a negative impact on our ability to continue to provide services to the community. These are the highest priority bills. If necessary, we will provide testimony, ask staff to pull related data, and ask our partners to help amplify our concerns. Our lobbyist will also prioritize these bills/issues in discussions with legislators. The legislative core team will consist of staff members, the subject matter experts, from departments that fall within this category.
Impacts on Adopted City Plans: The bills in this category may inhibit staff’s ability to carry out actions in adopted City Plans. They are the next highest priority. We may ask the lobbyist to testify on our behalf if staff does not have the time. We may provide written public comments. We rely heavily on our partners to carry the message.
Benefits Existing Operations: Bills in this category would either provide funding opportunities for an existing city operation, assist in furthering a city goal, or provide community benefit through a community partner. We may ask the lobbyist to give a “me too” on behalf of Bozeman if Central House (CHS) are already in hearings on these bills.
Each week during the session, the legislative core team meets to discuss upcoming bill hearings and strategy. At the end of the week, a list of bills staff reviewed is published on the city website along with any staff testimony provided during that week.
Based on previous sessions, the interim session, and regular partner engagement staff anticipates a considerable amount of bills will fall into four categories:
1. Local Control: Local governments are closest to the communities they serve and are best positioned to understand local conditions and priorities. Preserving local decision-making authority allows cities to respond effectively to community needs, implement adopted plans, and remain accountable to residents. Bills in this category are generally related to land-use decision making. Examples include legislation that impacts land-use planning requirements, zoning, jurisdiction and maintenance responsibility of local transportation infrastructure.
2. Property Taxes: A stable and equitable municipal finance system is essential for providing core services while limiting the burden on taxpayers. Changes to property taxes, revenue tools, and financing authority can directly affect a city’s ability to maintain services, plan responsibly, and respond to growth. Bills in this category include those related to property tax relief and tax rates applied to various classes of property, changes to methods used to quantify and report newly taxable properties, user fees and assessments for city services, and alternate revenue streams for local governments such as local option taxes.
3. Infrastructure: Reliable infrastructure supports public health, economic development, environmental stewardship, and community quality of life. Local governments need adequate authority and resources to plan, construct, operate, and maintain water and wastewater systems, transportation networks, parks, and other essential infrastructure. Bills in this category are related to tax increment financing, municipal water rights, water quality regulations, and the water, sewer, streets needed to support affordable housing.
4. Public Safety: Public safety is a fundamental responsibility of local government. Cities need effective policies, adequate funding, and appropriate legal authority to provide the appropriate fire and emergency response, address behavioral health needs, protect public facilities and information systems, and ensure the public, streets, buildings and neighborhoods remain safe for everyone. Bills in this category are related to building codes, fire, and police. Example legislation includes bills related to traffic enforcement, interlocal coordination and communications for EMS, fire, and police response, and sustainable funding needed to support reliable public safety systems.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES:
None.
ALTERNATIVES:
As recommended by the Commission.
FISCAL EFFECTS:
None.