Protecting military missions in the state is a top priority for many in Montana, and a bill to create a statewide strategic plan regarding those interests is expected to be heard in the Legislature today.

The bill, HB 579, is sponsored by Rep. Roger Hagan, R-Great Falls, though Sen. Ed Buttrey is the driving force behind the idea of creating a military economic impact task force.

Buttrey has been working on the bill for several years, he said, but because it includes an appropriation, the bill has to originate in the House. The Republican senator, also of Great Falls, approached Hagan a few weeks ago to sponsor the bill.

The task force would, according to the bill, work to maintain and recruit military missions, raise awareness of the military impact in Montana and develop a strategic plan for how to position the state for future base realignment and closure, BRAC, rounds.

In Great Falls, 3,251 active duty personnel are stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base, and 588 civilians are employed there as well, according to data from the base. Those figures don’t include contractors and the estimated economic impact of Malmstrom in the local area is $337.6 million, according to the base.

According to the current draft of the bill, $250,000 would be allocated through June 30, 2015, for an economic impact study, Buttrey said. An additional $163,000 in each year of the same biennium would be allocated to cover administrative costs and travel for the task force.

Buttrey said a handful of community organizations are focusing on similar activities, but he said Montana is one of only a few states lacking a centralized group aimed at protecting military interests in the state.

One of those community groups is here in Great Falls and functions as an arm of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce. The Montana Defense Alliance, MTDA, has been operating for some time in the area and its board includes members of city and county government, the Airport Authority, the Great Falls Development Authority and the Chamber. The group is funded by chamber membership dues.