HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – The bill that funds state agencies for the next two years passed its initial vote in the Senate 27 to 22 Thursday, with only a few changes to the $10 billion budget.
Tim Pierce with the UM Legislative News Service reports that the Senate added an additional $12.3 million to the budget that the House passed last month. Senator Ryan Osmunson from Buffalo carried House Bill 2 in the Senate.
“It’s a good budget. It’s not a perfect budget, but it’s a good budget.”
Most amendments died during the Senate debate, but one amendment to the state health department budget passed 27 to 21. Senator Tom Jacobson from Great Falls voted for the amendment that would use excess Medical Marijuana revenue to fund peer support groups for adults to help with substance abuse or mental illness.
“It doesn’t cost us anything at the bottom line. We are able to move money out of one account and do some good things for other folks.”
The bill faces one more vote before passing the Senate.
