Montana Bills

SB 260 establishes procedures for altering the boundaries of hospital and school service districts. It allows real property owners to petition for these changes if they have difficulty accessing public services or to improve public safety services like law enforcement, firefighting, or emergency medical services. The process involves petitions, public hearings, and election procedures to transfer property between existing districts or create new divisions. The bill also provides for sharing tax collections and making reconciliation payments between districts when boundaries are altered.

SB 174 revises Montana laws regarding the review of properties for rent or lease. The bill specifically requires that areas providing multiple spaces for recreational vehicles or mobile homes for rent or lease be considered "subdivisions." This change means such developments will now be subject to the state's subdivision review process, including oversight by local governing bodies. The aim is to apply existing subdivision regulations to these types of rental or lease arrangements.

SB 253 revises the administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations (SSOs) in Montana. The bill requires SSOs to apply for certification from the Department of Revenue and outlines specific requirements they must meet to be certified and accept tax-credit eligible donations. It mandates that SSOs allocate at least 90% of their annual revenue from eligible donations for scholarships and ensures a parent's right to select an education provider. The legislation aims to increase transparency and accountability for these organizations.

SB 93 revises state income tax laws concerning military pensions, retirement, and survivor benefits. The bill expands the eligibility for tax exemptions on these benefits to include certain individuals who became or remained residents of the state after a specific date. It also eliminates the previous 5-year limit for claiming the exemption and removes the statutory sunset, making the exemption permanent. This means more retired military members and their survivors in Montana will be able to exempt their military retirement income from state taxes indefinitely.

SB 226 revises the process for certifying petition signatures by adding specific filing timelines. The bill requires individuals or groups gathering signatures for petitions to submit collected signature sheets and their accompanying affidavits to county election administrators within defined timeframes. These deadlines vary based on how long ago the signatures were gathered. If the signature sheets and affidavits are not submitted by the required deadlines, the county election administrator must reject them.

SB 103 increases the fee collected by the clerk of district court for issuing an execution or order of sale on a lien foreclosure. The fee is raised from $5 to $25, a $20 increase. This additional $20 will be deposited into the county district court fund. The bill primarily affects individuals and entities involved in lien foreclosure proceedings who must pay this court fee, as well as the funding for county district court operations.

Senate Bill 69 revises reporting requirements for county attorneys and the Attorney General concerning child sexual abuse cases. It changes the frequency of county attorneys' reports to the Attorney General from semi-annual to annual, due by June 1 each year. These reports must include specific details such as case identifiers, dates of charges or prosecution declinations, and conviction outcomes. The Attorney General will then compile this aggregated data and report annually to the law and justice interim committee by August 15, enhancing tracking and oversight of these cases.

SB 326 revises Montana's MEDIA Act film tax credits, extending them through 2045 and increasing the aggregate credit limit. The bill provides additional tax credits for production companies that hire veterans and enrolled tribal members. It establishes a fee for unused allocated credits, with these funds directed to a new film industry workforce training account to support workforce development. These changes aim to expand job opportunities and encourage investment in Montana's media manufacturing sector.

SB 497 establishes laws for professional wellness programs aimed at addressing career fatigue in healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, and dentists. The bill grants civil immunity to members and consultants of these wellness programs for actions performed within their duties. It revises reporting requirements, stating that participation in a wellness program alone does not obligate reporting a healthcare provider to their licensing board, unless there is a good faith determination of incompetence or danger. Additionally, the bill provides an evidentiary privilege, generally protecting the proceedings and records of these programs from discovery in civil actions or admission in licensing actions.

SB 555 generally revises gambling laws, updating the definition of "internet gambling" to include online casinos and cryptocurrency. It provides an exception for online casinos that do not use any form of currency. The bill also revises how fines are disposed of, directing them to the Department of Justice, and establishes new criminal penalties, including both misdemeanor and felony crimes, for violations.

Senate Bill 333 repeals the termination date for the existing coal severance tax coal washing credit. This credit, previously set to expire on July 1, 2027, will now continue indefinitely. The bill directly affects coal mining companies and processors that utilize coal washing and are subject to the coal severance tax, allowing them to continue claiming this tax credit.

HB 545 revises laws concerning missing and murdered indigenous persons. The bill specifically updates the name, membership, and duties of the existing Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force. This legislation aims to enhance state efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous individuals.