Legislative Alert Email for 04/05/21

 
Photo credit: iStock John Pitcher

Dear Supporter,

This week we have a number of bills to focus on, including bills attacking bears, bison, and democracy as well as bills trying to force Montanans to pay for expensive and polluting coal. We still have time to stop these bills, so please make your voices heard by joining us in calling on our legislators to vote for the environment and for Montana! We're prioritizing five bills for you to help us take action on this week but have a few more bills at the bottom of the email for you to take action on if you have time. 

For other bills we're following, please check out our bill tracker page. Also, check out our citizen lobbying guide for more links and information, including how to find and contact your senator or representative.  

MT Chapter's Last Best Legislative Event:
Gear Up for the Final Sprint

Next Tuesday, April 13 we're hosting a virtual event to highlight several significant bills still moving forward in the Montana legislature, prepare to strategically push back in the last weeks of the session, and discuss what comes next.

Want to get more involved in virtual lobbying or organizing and connect with other folks who care about moving towards a more just and livable future? Then this event is for you! Door prizes included. Just click the button below to RSVP.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP

 

Help Us Stop Attacks On Bison & Bears 

HB 302: Require County Approval to Relocate Bison - OPPOSE

This bill undermines Montana's authority to manage wildlife by taking the authority to manage bison from Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and ceding it to county commissioners. This bill passed out of committee last week, but we still have time to stop it! 
  • CLICK HERE to use our form to tell your senator to vote no on HB 302
  • Call (406) 444 - 4800 to leave a message for your Senator urging them to vote no on HB 302
  • You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet for HB 302

SB 337: Revising Laws Related to Grizzly Bear Relocation - OPPOSE
 

This bill prohibits Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks from relocating bears captured outside of established grizzly bear recovery zones, and within already established recovery zones, SB 337 only allows bears to be relocated to sites approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission. This prevents Montana's isolated grizzly bear populations from connecting with each other and will result in many more grizzly bears being killed instead of being relocated.  This bill has passed committee and will be scheduled for a floor vote soon!
  • Call (406) 444 - 4800 or CLICK HERE to leave a message for your representative urging them to vote no on SB 337

Corporate Accountability and Climate Justice

SB 379: Generally Revise Coal-Fired Generation Laws - OPPOSE

SB 379 will force NorthWestern Energy's ratepayers to pay more than $1 billion to keep Colstrip Unit 4 operating indefinitely while guaranteeing that NorthWestern earns a profit. This bill also removes the Public Service Commission's oversight of the utility's expenditures related to the Colstrip coal plant, allowing NorthWestern Energy (and not elected officials) to decide how much to charge Montanans for expensive, inefficient polluting coal power. This bill passed the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee last week and will be up for a floor vote!
  • Call (406) 444 - 4800 or CLICK HERE to leave a message for the committee urging them to vote no on SB 379
  • CLICK HERE to join our virtual lobbying phone bank tomorrow evening at 6:30 to stop SB 379
  • You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet for SB 379 and on MEIC's video


Protect Our Democracy & Our Right to Protest

HB 384 & 385: Attacks on Citizen Ballot Initiatives - OPPOSE 

HB 384 drastically increases the number of signatures needed for citizen-initiated ballot initiatives, while HB 385 does so for constitutional initiatives. Both bills have a hearing on Friday, April 9 in the Senate State Administration Committee. Our best chance to stop bad bills is in committee!
HB 481: Protect critical infrastructure - OPPOSE

This bill increases penalties on those who protest or even support or are associated with protests at pipelines and other major developments, including fines of up to $1.5 million for organizations. This law targets civil disobedience and seeks to intimidate and suppress the free speech rights of those who peacefully protest in defense of land, water, and wildlife. HB 481 passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week and will be up for a floor vote!
  • Call (406) 444 - 4800 or CLICK HERE to leave a message for your senator and urge them to vote no on HB 481
  • You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet for HB 481


If you have time, here are some other bills to take action on this week.

Urge Governor Gianforte to veto HB 224, HB 225, HB 176, and SB 169
  • HB 224 and HB 225 allow for the snaring of wolves and extending the hunting and trapping season in both the spring and fall. This will kill wolves, bears, lions, and many other species as well as dogs and other pets. Snaring is cheap and undoubtedly thousands of snares will proliferate across public lands if the Governor signs HB 224 
  • HB 176 ends same-day voter registration and SB 169 imposes stricter voter ID requirements. Both bills aim to disenfranchise BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color); renters; people with disabilities; rural, lower-income, and younger people; and renters
  • Call Governor Gianforte at (406) 444 - 3111 or email him at governor@mt.gov and urge him to veto these bills.

Protect our renewable portfolio standard 
  • HB 576 seeks to repeal Montana's renewable portfolio standard. This bill is still in committee.
  • Call (406) 444 - 4800 or CLICK HERE to leave a message for the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee urging them to vote no on HB 576

Contact your representative to stop SB 257 and SB 260
  • SB 257 prohibits local governments from regulating carbon. You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet
  • SB 260 severely undermines Montana's ability to regulate and could cost Montanans hundreds of millions of dollars. You can find out more about this bill on our fact sheet
  • These bills are both out of committee
  • CLICK HERE to use our form to tell your representative to vote no on SB 257
  • Call (406) 444 - 4800 or CLICK HERE to leave a message for your representative urging them to vote no on SB 260
CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER WITH US
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Thank you for every action you take to defend our lands, water, wildlife, and a healthy climate.

With gratitude, 
Your Montana Chapter Legislative Team
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