Earlier this week Montana Government Relations Chair Brett Doney and Pete Jacobson, ICSC Manager State & Local Government Relations, joined the Montana Retail Association for their biennial lobby day. The Montana Legislature meets every other year and will be in session for 90 days.
The group met with Governor Steve Bullock and legislative leaders from both parties to discuss Opportunity Zones in underserved communities, an Organized Retail Crime bill seeking to reduce the felony threshold from the current level of $1,500, and implementation of online sales tax collection.
Montana is one of five states in the country that does not have a sales tax. Many large online retailers based in Montana are being confronted for the first time with developing a sales tax collection and remittance platform to comply with the recent Wayfair decision.
During the day the group also participated in a lunch meeting with the Governor and First Lady Lisa Bullock. Montana’s No Kid Hungry program has been one the first lady’s primary initiatives. Through the Montana Retail Association and Round-it-up-Montana over $200,000 has been raised for the program, which provides “Breakfast after the Bell” meals to children who live in economically challenged communities.
If you have any follow-up questions, please contact Pete Jacobson with ICSC.
L to r: Montana Government Relations Chair Brett Doney (Great Falls Development Authority), Montana Governor Steve Bullock, First Lady Lisa Bullock, Pete Jacobson (ICSC).