MAR Government Affairs General Introduction

The Montana Association of REALTORS® (MAR) monitors the Montana Legislature and the various state agencies that make decisions that directly affect your business, the rights of property owners, and the free transfer of real estate. MAR strategically commits resources to every facet of the political process with the goal of maximizing our ability to protect your business, the real estate industry in general, and quality of life in Montana. These facets include:

Lawmaking by the Legislature and rulemaking by the various state agencies. Along with MAR staff, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) oversees all legislative and regulatory affairs. The Montana Legislature meets every two years on the odd-numbered year and MAR actively lobbies priorities identified by the PAC. MAR employs a full-time Government Affairs Director and contracts with experts on key policy issues such as licensing, water, land use, taxation, and consumer protection.

Participating in the electoral process. REALTORS® utilize Montana RPAC to elect “REALTOR® Party” candidates to local, state, and federal office. RPAC stands for the REALTORS® Political Action Committee, which is funded by voluntary, individual donations from members like you. Contributions go to candidates regardless of party affiliation and are based on the candidate’s position on priority REALTOR® issues. Montana RPAC is managed by an independent Board of Trustees that entertains recommendations from our local boards and associations as to which candidates to support.

Researching policy issues and advocating the REALTOR® position. The Issues Mobilization Fund (IMF), funded with voluntary member contributions, enables MAR to provide research and advocacy information for decision makers at the local and state level of government. The fund is administered by an independent Board of Trustees, which has the authority to provide financial resources in support of the REALTOR® position on ballot measures, both state legislation and as well as local ordinances and regulations. The Trustee also may assist local boards and associations and MAR in forming and participating in coalitions with other groups that are supportive and committed to the REALTOR® position on a particular issue.

Supporting legal cases to protect your business and the rights of property owners. With MAR’s new Legal Action Fund (LAF), the REALTORS® community is able to assist with the funding of legal challenges that could produce a positive ruling from our state and federal district courts as well as the Montana Supreme Court. In its short history the LAF has experienced success with precedent-setting cases in the state.

Mobilizing our grassroots membership. MAR is in the envious position of being able to activate over 4,000 REALTOR® members on statewide issues. MAR utilizes our Legislative Key Contact Program [link to sign up form] and “calls to action” from our Montana REALTOR® Action Center [provide link to action center] to ensure that the voice of REALTORS® is heard by our legislators at the state level.

There are many issues that impact the real estate industry – homeownership, property rights, business practices, taxes, etc. Therefore, MAR prioritizes the issues to which it will devote its resources. MAR utilizes the official Legislative Position Statement [provide link to PDF], which includes our Quality of Life Principles, to identify REALTOR® priorities each legislative session and throughout the legislative interim.

If you would like to learn more about, or get more involved with, MAR’s government affairs functions, contact Glenn Oppel, MAR Government Affairs Director, or call him at 406-441-4861.

Download the MAR Legislative Key Contact Form (932KB Word Doc)

Download the MAR Official Legislative Position Statement 2009-2010 (252KB PDF)