WWelcome to our final 2024 edition of the Community Banker. Another year is on its way out, and another Montana Legislative session is on its way in. Given that I am writing this column just a few days short of Halloween, it is appropriate to label that last fact as “spooky” for, as Gideon Tucker famously wrote, “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.” The 2025 Montana Legislature will convene a little later this session, with a start date of Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. In turn, the Legislature is slated to finish a bit later than usual with a sine die date of May 9, 2025. This last day is significant because it indicates that the Legislative Session will not be butting up against the ICBA Washington Policy Summit, which is set for May 12 to May 15, 2025. By way of a reminder, the annual D.C. fly-in is MIB’s best opportunity to speak directly with all members of Montana’s congressional delegation about federal issues and policies that impact the community banking industry. As such, the Association always encourages any and all of its members to join us in Washington, D.C., to meet with our two senators and two members of the House of Representatives. But, just because the annual trip to our nation’s capital does not yet happen for a few months, MIB’s legislative advocacy services continue year-round on behalf of the membership. Turning back to Montana, the 2025 Legislative Session will be another active one for the Association, but perhaps not as active as usual. This is because Banking Commissioner Melanie Hall has indicated that the Banking Division does not plan to carry any agency legislative bills this coming session for the first time in years. The upcoming Legislature will likely be a tough one for legislators. If you have picked up a newspaper or turned on a news broadcast over the last several months, you have heard that property tax is a hot button issue in Montana right now. What’s more, the Medicaid coverage expansion bill enacted by the 2019 Legislature is up for renewal this coming session. Medicaid expansion is always a controversial topic. And, with the state experiencing record budget surpluses, you can bet there will be a lot of political posturing and a lot of wheeling-and-dealing to get the constitutionally required House Bill 2 state spending bill passed. Speaking of the legislature, the Association is pleased to announce the dates when they will be hosting the bi-annual state legislative advocacy meeting. MIB has scheduled for Jan. 7-8, 2025, as the dates for the membership to come to Helena to meet with their legislators and their banking colleagues to advocate on behalf of Montana’s community banking industry. As we get closer to that date, the Association will provide more detail on the legislative dinner and associated advocacy activities. In the meantime, make sure to mark those January dates on your calendar and make your plans now to meet us in Helena at the Great Northern Best Western Hotel. As discussed above, strong legislative advocacy and good public policy are two of the major benefits the Association EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE FINISHING THE YEAR STRONG BY JAMES E. BROWN, ESQ., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIB 6 Community Banker
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