MT HB757

Establishes a two-tier prioritization system for cultural and aesthetic project grants: first by previous grant history (favoring applicants with no prior awards in the last three funding cycles) and second by annual operating budget size (favoring organizations with budgets under $100,000)

Organizations with annual operating budgets under $100,000 receive first priority; those with budgets of $500,000 or more receive lowest priority

Requires the advisory committee to adjust budget threshold limits for inflation between each funding cycle, in consultation with the budget director

Allows applicants with program budgets under $100,000 who do not use federal funds to request a waiver from the federal SAM number requirement if compliance would be burdensome

Amends Section 22-2-302, MCA to make the advisory committee's grant review process subject to the new prioritization criteria