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MontanaHB 75769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise criteria for cultural and arts grant program

Sponsored By: John Fitzpatrick (Republican)

Became Law

Arts and Antiquities

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Cultural grant priority favors smaller groups

The advisory committee now ranks cultural grant applications using two rules. First, past awards in the last three funding cycles: 0 awards = first priority; 1 = second; 2 = third; 3 = fourth. Second, total annual operating budget: under $99,999 = first; $100,000–$249,999 = second; $250,000–$499,999 = third; $500,000+ = fourth. Between funding cycles, the committee raises these budget cutoffs for inflation with the budget director. This helps first‑time and smaller‑budget applicants and lowers priority for repeat or larger‑budget groups.

Small projects can skip federal SAM registration

Applicants with a total program budget of $100,000 or less that do not receive or use federal funds can ask to skip federal SAM registration. The request must state that getting a SAM number is burdensome. The committee may not unreasonably deny the waiver.

Committee review rules and session deadline

The advisory committee reviews all cultural and arts grant proposals using the new priority rules. Its recommendations are advisory only. It must present recommendations to the legislature’s appropriations committee by the 15th day of any regular session.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Fitzpatrick

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • John Esp

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 197 • No: 93

House vote • 4/22/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 40 • No: 10

House vote • 4/18/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 37 • No: 5

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 62 • No: 37

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 58 • No: 41

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/19/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/7/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/6/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/2/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/27/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/22/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/22/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading Concurred

    4/18/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    4/2/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    4/2/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    4/1/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Committee

    3/18/2025Senate

  14. First Reading

    3/14/2025Senate

  15. Transmitted to Senate

    3/7/2025House

  16. 3rd Reading Passed

    3/7/2025House

  17. 2nd Reading Passed

    3/6/2025House

  18. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    2/28/2025House

  19. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    2/27/2025House

  20. Hearing

    2/25/2025House

  21. First Reading

    2/25/2025House

  22. Referred to Committee

    2/25/2025House

  23. Introduced

    2/25/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/23/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/25/2025

    PDF

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