Week 9 was the final week of the regular legislative session. We ended on Thursday of last week. There will be a number of task forces going on this spring and summer - task force on the prison beginning in April with final decision in July, property tax summer study and any other summer study issues decided in April by the Executive Board. I think everyone is glad to be done with the session.

I have deleted the bills that have been killed/41st day, tabled or signed.

Veto day is March 31. Thanks for all your help and support Have a great spring!

Bill allows an individual registering as a voter to designate optional contact information as not for public inspection. Bill was amended and then bill passed House 40-28. Bill was killed/41st day in Senate State Affairs Committee 5-4

This bill voids covenants that prohibit or restrict the possession of use of firearms and ammunition. Bill was amended and then passed House 60-1. Bill now goes to Sen Judiciary and passed 7-0 and passed the Senate 34-0. Gov signed

This bill describes aggravated criminal entry of a car with intent to steal a firearm, makes offenders ineligible for presumptive probation with a penalty. Bill was amended in committee to include language about if you enter the car and also to include silencers. Bill then passed 8-3 and passed the House 56-14. Bill was killed/41st day 6-0 in Senate Judciary.

Bill increases the drivers license fee from $28 to $38 and a name change from $15 to $20. Also lists additional costs if revocations occur for some violations.
The Commercial License increases from $33 to $43 and knowledge test is $20.00. Bill is in Senate Appropriations Committee and has a minor change on revocation and will be there until budget discussions. Bill passed Senate Appropriations Committee 6-2 and passed Senate 24-11. Bill passed House 51-18. Gov signed

This bill imposes a motor vehicle technology fee to support and enhance technology used to administer motor vehicle services. The fee is $2.00 per transaction. This includes motorcycles. Hearing is set for 2/5 in Senate Transportation Committee and was sent to Joint Appropriations Committee to be decided during budget discussions. Joint Appropriations Committee held hearing and deferred until budget discussions - passed Joint Approp 15-3 with an amendment to put the money in the Motor Vehicle Fund. Bill passed House 57-13. On Gov's desk

Bill requires an indication of US citizenship status on your drivers license or permit. Bill was amended to include a non-driver identification card and then passed 8-1. Bill passed Senate 32-3. Bill passed House State Affairs Committee with an amendment to change the word gender to sex 11-2. Bill passed House 66-4. Senate concurred with the amendment 31-2. On Gov's desk

Bill permits the operation of a Class I electric bicycle on the Mickelson Trail. There are also exemptions for other types of vehicles that can be on the trail - snowmobile, emergency personnel, etc. Bill passed committee 6-1 and passed Senate 33-2. Bill now goes to House Ag Committee - passed committee and passed House 65-5. Bill passed House 65-5. Gov signed

Bill prohibits payment of rebate of insurance deductibles by contractors providing car repair services. This includes garage, repair shop, or body shop. Bill passed committee 9-0 and passed Senate 35-0. Bill is in House Commerce Committee and passed committee 13-0 and passed House 64-5. Gov signed.

Bill revises and repeals provisions to street racing prohibitions with penalty. Bill was heard in committee and concerns were brought up about the person organizing a motorcycle event and getting permission from Dept of Trans or local authorities. We were able to get an amendment to fix the issue of person organizing an event would not be subject to any penalties. We still have questions about the permission aspect of an event on public areas. Private property events are not affected in this bill. Sen Mehlhaff and Sen Duhamel both have been very helpful in trying to get questions answered. Bill passed committee 5-2 and passed Senate 25-9. We may have to work on changes in the House, if we can. We continue to try and make some changes as some feel this is too broad of a bill. We all want to help crack down on street racing on public highways and roads. Bill is now in House Trans Committee and passed committee 11-0 with an amendment in Sec 9 inserted the word "reasonably" and then passed House 48-22. Bill now goes to the Senate for concurrence and they will concur. Then bill goes to Governor. We will have to monitor this bill once it takes affect July 1 to see how everyone operates. Senate concurred with amendment. 31-4 and Gov signed

Bill establishes an electronic system for vehicle titles. Bill passed committee 7-0 and passed Senate 34-0. Now in House Trans Committee and passed committee 11-0. Bill passed House 68-1.On Gov's desk

Bill includes certain types of vehicles in the abandoned titling process. Bill passed committee and passed Senate 34-0. Now in House Trans Committee and bill passed committee 12-0 and bill passed 68-1 in the House. Gov signed.

Bill modifies requirements for off road vehicle dealers at special events. Bill passed committee and passed Senate 35-0. Now goes to House Trans Committee and bill passed committee 11-0 and passed 68-1 in the House. Gov signed

This bill is the general budget bill for 2026 and will be the last bill we deal with in session as it lists all the funding. Bill was tabled in committee and new bill SB 220 was introduced. This is the normal procedure for the budget bill for upcoming year.

This bill is the Governor's bill on changes to the property tax - worked out with a task force of legislators. Bill proposes a limit on owner occupied property tax for 5 years to no more than 3 percent and also proposes a tax freeze for two years on certain property. Also addresses increase in improvements concerning amounts - more on this later as we are meeting with Dept of Revenue to hear how it will be implemented. There are a number of other property tax bills that may or may not disappear if people get behind this bill. Bill sent to Senate State Affairs for hearing and came out 8-1. It was soft support as amendments need to be worked out to correct a couple problems. This will be around until the end of session. Bill passed Senate 30-5 and passed House State Affairs Committee. There are a couple other property tax bills - SB 191 and HB 1235 - that are also in the discussion and they have passed the first body so the Senate has one bill and the House has two bills. There will be a conference committee this week to see if they can come up with something concerning property tax. This bill was amended in the House to allow counties to increase assessments to 3 % with a 5 year freeze and allows schools to increase to 3 mills plus any new growth and new construction up to 3 %. Bill then passed House 53-16 and passed Senate 29-6. There will also be a summer study task force to further study property tax to see if any other improvements can be made. Gov signed. All the other property tax bills were killed.

This is the new budget bill for 2026 and will include a 1.25 increase for education, state employees, and providers. The bill total is $7.3 billion and passed House 59-11 and passed Senate 34-1.