State Legislature 2024: HD48-Curtis Schomer (R)

What are your three most important policy priorities? What do you hope the impact of implementing these policies will be?

1. Property taxes; provide financial relief for Montana property owners

2. Public Safety; make our neighborhoods safer and provide support for our public safety officers

3. Career & Technical Education; combat the aging workforce by teaching specific career skills beginning in our middle schools and through post-secondary institutions

In a recent survey of our members, an overwhelming portion of respondents (96%) agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “Reducing the cost of doing business in Montana generally benefits all Montanans.” What do you hope the Legislature will do to reduce the cost of doing business in Montana?

The first step is to reduce the overall local and state tax burdens. The government needs to value entrepreneur’s time by ensuring regulations and paperwork are streamlined and not complex or difficult to comply with. Montana needs to invest in education and training so that business owners know we have the workforce in place to help their businesses not only survive but thrive. Finally, it’s imperative for start-ups to have easy access to funding.

In our recent survey, public safety was identified as the number one policy issue for our members. During the 2023 Session, important bills to update the antiquated Youth Court Act and revise theft laws both narrowly failed. We expect those and other safety bills to come up during the 2025 Session. What legislative changes would you suggest to address safety issues in Billings and around the state?

I wholeheartedly agree with your members, this is top priority. City and county officials have told me we do not have the necessary space to lock up offenders. Therefore, the first step is to build a new jail to keep up with the rising population and the crimes that accompany growth.

We need more boots on the ground! The average number of state or local police officers per 100,000 people in the US is 219. Montana is the 10^th lowest at 171. Yellowstone County has 130 – this is unacceptable. Research I have done shows money is not being allocated as intended – we need more oversight on where public safety funds are being spent.

Finally, we need to focus on our youth and the future of the state by providing rewarding programs where they can envision themselves as successful adults.

Last session, the Montana Legislature passed numerous bipartisan housing bills, reforming onerous regulations that restrict housing supply and appropriating an historic amount of funding for housing. Considering how much was accomplished, it was dubbed the “Montana Miracle.” However, the work is not done, and more recommendations are coming forward from the Governor’s Housing Task Force. Which recommendations to add housing supply and make housing more affordable will you consider supporting?

I support the knowledge and experience of the Governor’s Housing Task Force and therefore support all their recommendations. However, I do not believe the state government should be in the real estate market and will not support community land trusts.

Over the last two sessions, the Montana Legislature took significant steps to reduce the business equipment tax, relieving 502 Yellowstone County businesses from the burden of paying this tax. Would you be supportive of further reductions, allowing even more businesses to keep more of their hard-earned dollars?

I am supportive of further reductions as long as they do not transfer additional burden to residential property owners or long-term rentals. While I fully understand the need for businesses to have a favorable tax environment, I also know our single largest tax challenge in the state is residential property tax and affordable housing. Therefore, I will always put MT individuals above businesses.

Reauthorizing Medicaid Expansion will be a major topic of debate in the upcoming session. Originally passed in 2015, the program provides significant benefits to Yellowstone County, creating over 1,500 jobs and providing healthcare coverage to approximately 10% of our local workforce. Are you supportive of reauthorization? With changes? Not at all?

Affordable healthcare is critical in Montana for employees and workers alike. Medicaid expansion reduces the cost transfer to private pay and insured pay. Among adult Medicaid enrollees aged 19-64, 66% are working, 10% are attending school, 13% are ill or disabled, 8% are caretakers, and 4% fall into other categories. On average, adults spend less than three years on Medicaid, often moving to jobs that provide healthcare. Over 32k people in Yellowstone County utilize Medicaid as of May 2024 and 40% of all childbirth in Montana is covered by Medicaid. If waste, fraud, and abuse are appropriately dealt with, I am supportive of renewing this program.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is consistently a topic at the Legislature, with supporters arguing it is one of the only economic development tools available to local communities in Montana, while some opponents contend it should be eliminated. The Billings Chamber has long been a strong supporter but acknowledges there could be room for improvement. What are your thoughts on TIF?

TIFs are a good program for economic development. I am supportive of TIFs if they are focused on rejuvenating distressed neighborhoods and organized in a manner that does not create additional residential property tax burdens. Once the blighted area is addressed, the TIFs should expire, returning properties to the tax rolls and avoiding a permanent subsidy from taxpayers.

Considering the concern over recent property tax increases, the Governor established a Property Tax Task Force to offer recommendations for dealing with increasing property taxes. Which of the 12 recommendations, or other solutions, would you support to address property tax concerns?

The committee members on this task force are tackling very complex issues. I support all the recommendations of the committee/subcommittees that do not transfer property tax breaks to income tax increases.