State Legislature 2024: SD21-Gayle Lammers (R) - Billings Chamber of Commerce

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

Lower property taxes: One of the most important policy priorities is to lower property taxes to provide relief to homeowners and businesses. Lowering property taxes can help stimulate economic growth, attract new residents and businesses, and alleviate financial burdens on individuals and families.
Economic development: Another key priority is to focus on economic development initiatives that promote job creation, attract investment, and foster innovation. By supporting economic development, we can strengthen our local economy, increase revenue streams, and improve the overall quality of life for residents.
Public safety: Ensuring public safety is crucial for maintaining a thriving community. Implementing policies that prioritize public safety can help reduce crime rates, enhance community policing efforts, and create a safer environment for everyone. By investing in public safety initiatives, we can protect our neighborhoods, businesses, and residents, ultimately leading to a more secure and prosperous community.

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 initial priority should be to reduce local and state tax burdens and deregulate to create a more business-friendly environment. It is crucial for the government to streamline regulations and paperwork to save entrepreneurs time and resources. Montana must invest in education and training to ensure a skilled workforce that can support businesses in thriving. Additionally, easy access to funding is crucial for the success of start-ups.

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?

In agreement with the members’ concerns, addressing public safety issues must be a top legislative priority in Billings and across the state. Given the recent legislative setbacks in updating the Youth Court Act and theft laws, it is crucial to revisit and address these bills in the upcoming 2025 Session.

To enhance safety in Billings and statewide, I recommend focusing on the construction of new detention facilities to alleviate overcrowding, allocating more resources to law enforcement officers to improve crime prevention efforts, and implementing rehabilitation programs for released individuals to reduce recidivism rates. These measures are essential for fostering a safer community environment.

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 many of the Governor’s Housing Task Force recommendations to enhance housing supply and affordability in Montana. Building on the success of the bipartisan housing bills passed in the previous legislative session, there is more work to be done. As a current legislator, I endorse the efforts of my predecessor in supporting Bill HB819 and acknowledge the ongoing challenges of rising home valuations and inflation that hinder housing affordability. Addressing the root causes of inflation is crucial to ensuring sustainable solutions for all Montanans.

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?

Yes, I believe in allowing the free market system to operate and providing business owners with more opportunities to reinvest and expand their businesses. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid unintended consequences and ensure that we do not simply shift burdens elsewhere. As a business owner myself, I strongly believe in the free market system that has been instrumental in shaping America into what it is today. We know what we are doing! Let us fly!

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 a crucial factor in Montana, benefiting both employees and workers. Medicaid expansion plays a key role in reducing cost burdens transferred to private and insured payers. Among adult Medicaid enrollees aged 19-64, a significant portion are either working, attending school, ill or disabled, caretakers, or fall into other categories. On average, adults spend less than three years on Medicaid before transitioning to jobs that offer healthcare benefits. In Yellowstone County alone, over 32,000 individuals rely on Medicaid as of May 2024, with Medicaid covering 40% of all childbirths in Montana. If measures are taken to address waste, fraud, and abuse effectively, I am in favor of continuing and supporting the renewal of 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 beneficial tool for promoting economic development. I believe in supporting TIFs as long as they are targeted towards revitalizing struggling neighborhoods and structured in a way that does not place extra property tax burdens on residents. It is important that once the blighted areas have been revitalized, the TIFs should come to an end, allowing properties to re-enter the tax rolls and preventing a long-term 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?

I tend to agree with many, if not all, of the recommendations put forth by the Property Tax Task Force. The task force is dedicated to addressing a very complex issue, and I appreciate their efforts. One of my primary concerns is ensuring that while addressing property tax concerns, we do not inadvertently shift the burden onto income tax. It is essential to carefully consider the potential impacts and unintended consequences of any proposed changes to the tax system.