Confirm governor's appointees for the board of hail insurance
Summary
SR 19 is a Senate resolution confirming two gubernatorial appointments to the Montana Board of Hail Insurance. Specifically, it gives the Senate’s consent to appoint Vince Mattson of Chester to a term ending May 1, 2026, and Bing Von Bergen of Moccasin to a term ending May 1, 2028. The resolution is a standard appointment-confirmation measure and does not create new policy or change the substantive duties of the board.
The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit the adopted resolution to the Secretary of State and the Governor, completing the confirmation process required under Montana law. Its practical effect is to authorize the named individuals to serve on the Board of Hail Insurance under existing statutory authority, which governs the board’s composition and appointment process.
Impact
SR 19 affects Montana’s appointment and confirmation process under sections 5-5-302, 5-5-303, and 2-15-3003, MCA, by formally approving the Governor’s selections for the Board of Hail Insurance. It does not amend the Montana Code Annotated or alter the board’s powers, but it does determine who may serve on the board and therefore who participates in administering the state’s hail insurance program.
Sentiment
The sentiment around SR 19 appears strongly positive and noncontroversial. The resolution passed the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee unanimously 11-0 and then passed the full Senate 48-0, indicating broad bipartisan support and little to no opposition. The lack of committee testimony or recorded debate suggests it was treated as a routine confirmation measure.
Contention
There is no notable substantive contention reflected in the available record. Because the measure concerns confirmation of appointments rather than policy change, any discussion would likely have centered on the qualifications or suitability of the appointees, but no objections, divided votes, or recorded concerns appear in the transcripts or voting history. The unanimous votes indicate consensus on the appointments and on the importance of maintaining a functioning Board of Hail Insurance.