The Government Affairs Committee is working to bring candidates in for interviews to determine who to support. In local government across the state, these policies and initiatives are the most consequential:

• Zoning Code Re-writes
  • State mandated zoning code rewrites are in full swing. In Beaverhead, Madison, Gallatin, Park, Sweet Grass, and Wheatland Counties, the local governments are addressing re-zoning and updating growth codes. Over the next few months, these zoning code changes at city and county levels will be voted into policy.
• Land Use & Growth Policies
  • As Southwest Montana’s population continues to boom, local governments are being asked to modify Land Use and Growth Policies. Gallatin County, for example, is using their growth policy to address 22 un-zoned areas. Additionally, Gallatin County is working on finalizing their Future Land Use Map and Regional Housing Study – which will have widespread effects on the real estate industry moving forward. This is an ongoing process and public feedback will be requested over the course of May. The growth policies are being tweaked to allow the zoning codes to have more teeth.
• Water & Wastewater
  • Southwest Montana governments are focused on reducing residential water use by regulating lawn watering. This will begin to take effect in the next two months as policies are enacted. Each of the local governments are emphasizing water conservation as the key to reducing water use and preserving water in the closed basins of southwest Montana.
  • Wastewater is at the forefront of the water conversation. Municipalities are grappling with DEQ regulations. For example, Belgrade has more sewage capacity than is available for use but is limited by State regulations.
• Elections
  • The first round of elections is taking place at the School Board level across southwest Montana. Ballots have been sent out and need to be returned in short order.
  • Primary races for State Congressional seats are heating up. The new Congressional districts are highly important in determining who will win which district. June 4^th will see these elections come to a head and inform the November 7^th elections. Keep an eye out for GAR’s Voter Guide in the next few months.
• Short Term Rentals
  • The economic principles of STRs are being kept on the backburner. Counties, like Gallatin County, will use their land use and growth policies to push STR regulations. Those governments that have enacted STR policies will leave them in place for the foreseeable future.