A bill that should help the economic well-being of Montana airports and the communities they serve is making its way through the legislature. AOPA Northwest Regional Representative Mike Ferguson testified before the House Transportation Committee on Monday about a bill that would correct a mistake in the law, allowing state-owned airports to lease airport property for up to 40 years instead of the current 10 years. The existing law makes it difficult to get financing for development. In a rare action, the committee voted and passed the bill without taking it into executive session. The bill will now go on to the Senate.
January 19, 2007