Smith Disappointed Overall With Session

By Bill Vander Weele

Being a Democrat in a Republican controlled legislature and with a Republican governor, Rep. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, said it was a frustrating Montana legislative session for him.

The legislative session ended last week in Helena.

“There were quite a few disappointments,” Smith said. “There were no compromises made this year.”

There were a few positives, he said. One was that if a person serves time in person and then is found not guilty, legislators agreed the individual should be paid for the time served.

The governor wanted counties to make the payments, but Smith said an agreement was made that the county will pay 28 percent and the state will provide the rest.

Smith was pleased that legislators found COVID funds to help Montana State University- Havre, but he was disappointed that $150,000 wasn’t approved for DUI Task Force projects in Fort Peck and Fort Belknap.

Another positive was approval of a bill that will allow businesses to post “no guns allowed” signs. Smith said some casinos wanted the signage to be allowed.

Smith has served in the House for 10 years and in the Senate for eight years.

He doesn’t rule out seeking re-election for his House seat.

“It’s possible,” Smith said. “It depends on who else runs.”