HELENA — In what is likely the penultimate day of the 2021 Legislative Session, lawmakers on a free conference committee finalized a bill Wednesday directing $2 billion in federal cash to projects across the state.
The federal government already earmarked the majority of the money in the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, but it still needs to be allocated to specific projects. President Joe Biden signed ARPA in March.
Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, sponsored House Bill 632.
“We’re going to be – as I’ve said before – building bridges to our future, the kind of things that should last for decades,” Garner said
Cities and counties will have to apply for ARPA funds through an oversight board and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. If at any point the project is deemed unfit for ARPA funding, the state is responsible for making up the difference.
Sen. Ryan Osmundson, R-Buffalo, thanked the legislative staff who worked on a tight deadline with many moving parts.
“Julie certainly did a ton of work, but I know Joe, Quinn and all of our fiscal staff downstairs have just done an amazing job,” Osmundson said.
The bill now moves for a final series of votes on both the House and Senate floors.
James Bradley is a reporter with the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Broadcasters Association, the Montana Newspaper Association and the Greater Montana Foundation.
