Legislative Update: Representative Marta Bertoglio

The 2023 legislative session has begun. The House of Representatives is off to a productive start for the people of Montana. Many of the bills heard thus far are part of Governor Gianforte’s “Red Tape Relief Initiative” to delete laws no longer used and also to streamline how business is accomplished within state agencies.

Legislative committees have had hearings on important bills. The first one was HR-1. This defined how we as legislators conduct the business of the House for the people of Montana. One of the rules that passed allows for major policy issues to be debated on the House Floor if they are “blasted” out of committee and onto the floor for the entire body to debate an issue. This brings transparency and integrity to the process and ensures all our constituents’ voices are heard.

I serve on the State Administration, Education, and Local Government committees. I presented two bills on behalf of the Board for the Teacher Retirement System. The first was to clarify and update language in the law, and the second was a “working retiree” bill to address the shortage of public school teachers and superintendents, especially in rural areas. I also presented a bill brought forth from a pension study conducted by the State Administration and Veterans Affairs interim committee. It is a bill to address funding shortfalls in the Highway Patrol Officers’ Retirement System (HPORS), the Sheriffs’ Retirement System (SRS), and the Game Wardens’ and Peace Officers’ Retirement System, which includes Department of Corrections officers. The bill adds one-time-only (OTO) money into those pension systems to fund them as required by the constitution and statute.

Lastly, we are lucky to have a budget surplus during this session. We are working on priorities to best employ that money for Montanans now and in the future.

Members of the public can stay up to date during the session at Home - Montana State Legislature.