The legislation aimed at tightening up the operations of special districts that administer water and/or sewer systems throughout the state is encountering headwinds in the Montana Senate after having sailed through the House. As a consequence, its sponsor Rep. Larry Brewster, (R), HD44, said he has stripped out the problematic language so it stands a better chance of passing in the Senate.
Brewster hopes to see the bill pass out of the Local Government Committee, within a week, to be taken up by the Senate body.
Most of those who testified in the Local Government Committee were opposed to the bill primarily because of technical issues regarding financing. In the House where the bill passed 95-2, only one person testified in opposition, while numerous others encouraged its passage because it clarifies language in existing law on how the special districts are to function.
