Bill > SB116

This bill revises the composition and administrative structure of the Montana Heritage Preservation and Development Commission by reducing the total number of commission members from 14 to 9, while maintaining representation from multiple appointing authorities. The governor will now appoint 4 members (instead of 9), the senate president and house speaker will each appoint 1 member (reduced from their previous allocation), and three ex officio members from state agencies will continue to serve. The bill modifies appointment criteria, requiring appointees to have specific backgrounds such as tourism facility management, community planning, historic preservation, business experience, or representation from the tourism advisory council or as a Montana historian. The appointment process is streamlined, with a reduced timeframe of 2 months (down from 6) for the senate president and house speaker to fill vacancies, after which the governor can make appointments. The bill also changes administrative support, specifying that the Department of Commerce will provide staff and services to the commission, assessing reasonable costs, and requires the commission and department to report an indirect administrative rate to the Economic Affairs Interim Committee. The changes will be phased in gradually as existing gubernatorial appointments expire, with the bill becoming effective July 1, 2025.

Education, Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0221