House Bill 892 proposed to redirect a portion of the state's insurance premium tax revenue to help fund property tax relief. The bill would have mandated the transfer of $10 million annually from insurance tax collections to a new state property tax assistance account. This change aimed to reallocate state funds to provide financial assistance related to property taxes, indirectly affecting taxpayers. The bill's implementation was dependent on the passage of Senate Bill No. 90, which would establish the property tax assistance account.
HB 873 aimed to establish a Mobile Home Park Emergency Relocation Account. This account would provide financial assistance to mobile home owners who are required to move due to a change in use or redevelopment of their mobile home park. Eligible tenants could receive funds for relocation expenses, up to $10,000 for a single-section or $15,000 for a multi-section home, or an abandonment payment. The account would be funded by an annual assessment on mobile homes whose owners do not own the underlying land, along with other revenue, with the assessment waived if the account exceeds $1 million.
HB 800 revises Montana's residential landlord and tenant laws, affecting landlords, tenants, and individuals occupying a property without a formal agreement. The bill clarifies that guests who have not established a landlord-tenant relationship are not covered by these laws and can be prosecuted for criminal trespass if they refuse to leave. It also provides for the immediate removal of unauthorized persons or trespassers by law enforcement. The legislation accelerates the timelines for court hearings in landlord possession actions and for sheriffs to execute writs of assistance. Additionally, it updates the procedures for landlords to dispose of a tenant's abandoned personal property after a lease ends.
HB 506 proposed a constitutional amendment to change the method of selecting Montana Supreme Court justices. Currently, these justices are elected by qualified voters. If approved, the bill would have revised this to have Supreme Court justices appointed by the Governor from a list of nominees. This list would be provided by a nomination committee consisting of legislative leaders and two attorneys, with appointments subject to Senate confirmation. District court judges would have continued to be elected by voters.
HB 363 aimed to revise the selection process for the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC). It proposed changing the PSC's composition from five entirely elected members to two elected members and three members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. The bill outlined specific districts for the elected commissioners and established 6-year terms with term limits for all commissioners. Additionally, it introduced new qualifications for appointed commissioners, requiring industry expertise and prohibiting recent professional or financial ties to entities regulated by the commission.
HB 824 proposed to allow vehicle owners in Montana to display a county number decal on their personalized license plates. The bill would amend Section 61-3-403 of the Montana Code Annotated to explicitly permit this option. This change would affect individuals who choose personalized plates and desire to include a county identifier.
House Joint Resolution 3 (HJ 3) is a legislative measure that recommends the Montana Transportation Commission prioritize specific projects. It urges the Commission to focus on safety improvements at the intersection of U.S. Highway 287 and Montana Highway 200, commonly known as Bowman's Corner. This resolution serves as a recommendation from the Legislature to the Commission regarding highway construction and reconstruction project prioritization.
HB 453 would require the Department of Revenue to establish a program allowing taxpayers to pay state income taxes using cryptocurrency. The department would contract with third-party payment processors to convert cryptocurrency payments into U.S. dollars before the state receives them. A key provision is that using cryptocurrency for state tax payments would not be considered a taxable event for state capital gains tax purposes. This bill would affect taxpayers choosing to pay their state income taxes with cryptocurrency, applying to income tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
House Bill 232 aimed to revise laws concerning homeowners' associations (HOAs) and their members. It required HOAs to produce and distribute annual budget reports, detailing estimated revenue and expenses for the upcoming fiscal year, and annual financial reports, summarizing the prior year's finances. The bill also set rules for increasing HOA fees, allowing increases only once annually. Increases up to 15% would need approval from a majority of property owners, while increases over 15% would require approval from two-thirds of property owners.
HB 951 proposed a one-time transfer of $30 million from the state's general fund to the local road and bridge account. This action would have directed the state treasurer to complete the transfer by July 15, 2025. The funds were intended to support local road and bridge projects throughout the state, benefiting communities and their infrastructure.
HB 362 seeks to revise the Unit Ownership Act, which governs properties with shared common elements like condominiums. This bill directly affects unit owners by changing the required agreement threshold for altering their percentage of undivided interest in these common elements. Currently, all unit owners must agree to such changes. HB 362 proposes to lower this requirement, allowing changes to be made if 75% of unit owners agree and record an amendment.
HB 472 revises how the state manages money received from legal settlements. It generally requires that funds obtained from claims or litigation on behalf of the state or its citizens, after covering attorney fees and costs, be deposited into the state's general fund. The bill includes exceptions for specific funds like victim restitution, natural resource damages for restoration, and existing tobacco settlement money. It also grants the Governor authority to approve alternative uses for settlement funds, requiring a report to the legislative finance committee if this authority is utilized.
