Member Benefits
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The Montana Chamber of Commerce is a growing and dynamic group of businesses enhancing the economic viability of Montana and improving the environment in which companies conduct business. We work closely with our members to keep them informed and we work with local and national affiliates such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and local chambers of commerce to develop unity and strength.
Membership Benefits:
We work closely with the local chambers of commerce in Montana, but we are all separate organizations.
We have accomplished some very important goals for Montana businesses:
Workers’ Compensation Insurance: The Montana Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in passing SB323, a critical bill in the 2001 Legislature that restored the exclusive remedy protection for employers under the Workers’ Compensation Act in Montana. We have also helped turn a huge unfunded liability into a streamlined system with private insurers in the market, saving employers millions of dollars in workers’ compensation premiums. We monitor workers’ compensation benefit changes and advocate a strong, balanced three-party system.
Business equipment tax: The Chamber led efforts to reduce the tax from 9% to 6% and in the 1999 Session from 6% to 3%, saving millions of dollars for businesses to expand, invest, or just keep operating. We continue to defend this reduction to the Legislature and consider other progressive changes in the business equipment tax system.
Minimum wage: We believe the employment market and employee skill level should dictate the wages paid by employers. We have consistently fought legislative and initiative efforts to increase the minimum wage. We support proposals for retraining and educational opportunities that will ultimately help workers obtain new and improved skills and increased wages.
Human Rights: We changed Montana’s Human Rights Bureau from its own judge, jury, and bailiff to the Human Rights Commission, with oversight and procedural limitations. Some of our members credit this as a tremendous savings in their business. We successfully argued that employers should have the right to refer good employees for other jobs, as well as caution other employers about proven, problem employees.
