Speaker Regier: Democratically Elected Voices Must Be Heard

Support HB 889 - Revise the Residential Mobile Home Rental Act

Manufactured home parks have long been a critical housing source for aging Montanans on fixed incomes. Across the country private equity firms have been purchasing these parks - often without advance notice to the park’s residents. Three years ago a Utah-based firm, Havenpark, purchased seven parks with 1,800 lots in Billings, Great Falls, and Kalispell. These firms can extract enormous profits by raising rents, charging separately for utilities, and neglecting maintenance and upkeep. Manufactured-home owners have a substantial investment in their home, and if the owner can no longer afford to rent the lot, the added cost of finding a new location and moving the home can easily be $10,000 in cash. Many mobile home parks provide much-needed affordable housing options for older Montanans on fixed incomes. Rep. Jonathan Karlen (D-Missoula), with strong support from co-sponsors Sen. Pat Flowers (D-Belgrade) and Rep. George Nikolakakos (R-Great Falls) is working to bring HB 889 to provide a more even playing field for the residents who rent lots in these parks. The bill, as amended in the House: *Gives tenants 60 days notice of changes in the terms of their lease. *Gives tenants sufficient time to move their home if they cannot come to an agreement with the landlord. *Prevents retaliation against residents for forming an association, and protects their ability to freely associate. *Puts reasonable sideboards on the landlord's ability to limit the tenants' ability to sell their homes. Please join Big Sky 55+ in supporting this bill! We encourage you to edit the email message (found below the photos of the legislators) and make it your own.

Section B of HB 2 -- Fully fund Montana's long-term care providers

Section B of HB 2 -- the state's budget -- addresses funding of Montana's long-term care facilities. During the hearing, the committee heard eloquent testimony from providers from across the state making the case for keeping our safety net for seniors in nursing homes, persons with disabilities in group homes, and youngsters receiving critical behavioral healthcare. HB 2 passed out of the Committee without fully funding long-term care. It is coming to the Full Senate later this week. “Only this legislature can keep long term care from even more tragic nursing home closures across the state,” Big Sky 55+ lobbyist Margie MacDonald testified before the committee. Please send a message to your Senator asking them to keep our skilled nursing facilities open by fully funding the Guidehouse study recommended reimbursement rate.

URGENT Legislative Action Alert 4/17/23 - MEPA, Appropriations, and Constitutional Referendum

‌ Action Alert - April 17th, 2023 Hello Friends, We are entering the home stretch of the 68th legislative session and that means many bills are moving quickly through their last votes. We don’t have m

Contact your representatives.

Contact your representatives ASAP.   SANDERS COUNTY DEMOCRATS OF MONTANA   April 16, 2023 Action Alert Sunday alert for bills occurring on Monday, April 17th IF a bill is being heard in committee,

URGENT Legislative Action Alert 4/16/23 - The Montana Environmental Policy Act is under attack

‌ Action Alert - April 16th, 2023 Friends this is urgent! The Montana Environmental Policy Act is under attack and we need your help. Simply stated, we must take major action this week to save one of

Bill Tracker and Directory - Northern Plains Resource Council

Click the “Bills” tab below to learn more about all the bills we are tracking. Click the “Directory” tab to find your representatives.

As Montana’s Mental Health Crisis Care Crumbles, Politicians Promise Aid

One of Montana’s largest mental health providers has ratcheted back services amid financial troubles, leaving a vacuum. State policymakers have promised more money to aid behavioral health care, bu…

Contact your representatives.

Contact your representatives ASAP.   SANDERS COUNTY DEMOCRATS OF MONTANA   April 12, 2023 Action Alert We will continue these daily alerts as so many bills are flooding committees and floor votes. Th