HB 90 changes Montana's property tax assessment process by requiring all real property to be reappraised every two years instead of annually, effective immediately and applying retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024. This applies to every property owner across Montana, as the bill modifies the state code to mandate biennial reappraisals for all real property, not just specific classes. The law does not alter tax rates or calculation methods but adjusts the timing for reassessing property values. Property owners will receive updated reappraisal notices with comparative data on local tax trends, as required by the bill. The change streamlines the assessment schedule while ensuring tax neutrality through departmental reporting.
HB 105 simplifies licensing for Montana game bird farms by removing unnecessary notification requirements for licensees and the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. It establishes a $300 annual license fee, extends licenses to a 5-year term (renewable annually), and requires farms to report bird inventory and transactions annually. Operators must maintain records for 5 years and notify the department of any operational changes, such as species or enclosure modifications. This bill directly affects commercial game bird farm owners and operators by reducing administrative burdens while maintaining reporting and recordkeeping standards.
HB 99 is a technical revision bill that reorganizes and clarifies Montana's motor vehicle laws without creating new policies. It consolidates duplicate definitions (like for "motorboat" and "personal watercraft"), removes redundant penalty provisions, updates citations for consistency with drafting rules, and streamlines definitions for improved readability in the Montana Code Annotated. This bill directly affects drivers, vehicle dealers, law enforcement, and the Department of Motor Vehicles by making existing vehicle law references clearer and more accessible. The changes primarily involve structural edits to the law’s language, not new requirements or penalties.
HB 104 expands the investigative authority of agents appointed by Montana's Attorney General. It adds human trafficking, prostitution, and internet crimes against children to the list of offenses these agents can investigate concurrently with local law enforcement. The bill specifically defines "internet crimes against children" to include offenses like sexual assault, child sex trafficking, and other technology-facilitated crimes against minors. This change directly affects Attorney General-appointed agents, clarifying their jurisdiction without creating new penalties or funding. The bill amends Section 44-2-115 of Montana Code Annotated.
HB 98 revises Montana's hunting and fishing license laws to clarify possession rules for electronic licenses. It allows individuals to physically carry their spouse's or minor child's unused electronic license while hunting together, removing a prior restriction. The bill also requires license holders to personally validate their own licenses, prohibiting others (including minors) from doing so. These changes directly affect hunters and anglers who use electronic licenses, updating Sections 87-6-304 and 87-6-305 of Montana law with an immediate effective date.
HB 78 creates Montana's first dedicated legal framework for pet insurance, directly affecting pet owners and insurers selling policies in the state. It requires insurers to clearly disclose all exclusions (such as hereditary disorders, chronic conditions, or preexisting issues), coverage limits, waiting periods, and how claims history might impact premiums. The law mandates a 15-day "free look" period allowing buyers to return policies for a full refund if unsatisfied, with specific instructions printed on policy documents. These provisions aim to increase transparency and consumer understanding of pet insurance coverage.
HB 81 amends Montana law to move supervision of the Veterans' Affairs Division Administrator from the Board of Veterans' Affairs to the Adjutant General. This directly affects the administrator role, who implements veterans' services like claim assistance and benefit advocacy. The bill changes Section 10-2-102, MCA, to require the Adjutant General (part of the Department of Military Affairs) to hire and oversee the administrator, aligning veterans' affairs with military oversight. The Department of Military Affairs requested this change to streamline administrative responsibility.
HB 97 allows trucks to travel in coordinated groups (called "platoons") using technology to maintain closer, synchronized spacing on Montana highways. It requires all drivers operating in a platoon - both the lead vehicle and anyone who can take control - to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL). The Department of Transportation can restrict platooning during dangerous road conditions and must consult stakeholders before creating safety rules. The law applies to trucking companies and drivers on public highways and takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 15 updates Montana's K-12 school funding formula to adjust for inflation by increasing specific dollar amounts annually. It directly affects all public school districts in Montana by raising base funding rates for high schools, elementary schools, and K-12 programs, including per-pupil payments for American Indian students and other targeted programs. Key provisions include annual increases for basic entitlements (e.g., $343,483 to $375,333 for high school districts by 2026) and adjustments to payments like the American Indian achievement gap ($235 to $256 per student). The bill amends existing law to ensure funding keeps pace with rising costs, effective starting with the 2024 fiscal year. The legislation was signed into law by the Governor on April 1, 2025.
HB 61 amends Montana's inter-entity loan rules to allow state agencies managing federal special revenue funds to maintain a negative cash balance at fiscal year-end, provided they will be reimbursed from federal funds. This directly affects state agencies administering federal grants (like those for healthcare or education programs) that require advance spending. The key change removes the previous prohibition on negative balances for these specific funds, as long as the agency can demonstrate timely billing for reimbursements and the negative balance doesn't exceed 7 working days. The bill also adds reporting requirements for agencies with repeated negative balances or extended loans.
HB 79 exempts small-scale wood harvesting activities from requiring a fire hazard reduction agreement with Montana's Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Specifically, it applies to private landowners or individuals harvesting less than 5,000 board feet of forest products (like firewood) in a single activity. This change removes the need for these small-scale harvesters to obtain a formal agreement or certificate from the department. The bill directly affects homeowners, small landowners, and local residents who gather firewood or perform minor land clearing. It streamlines the process for low-impact activities while maintaining requirements for larger commercial operations.
HB 300 amends Montana law to prohibit educational institutions from allowing male students to participate in athletic programs designated for females or failing to provide access to gender-specific facilities like restrooms and locker rooms. It directly affects Montana schools and colleges by requiring compliance with these specific anti-discrimination rules. Key provisions include banning male participation in female sports teams and mandating access to facilities separated by sex, while allowing exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, ADA accommodations, and single-occupancy spaces. The law also clarifies that students may use another student's legal name or refer to their sex without violating the policy. This bill became effective after Governor's signature on March 27, 2025.
