Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 247: Modify tax classification of shooting ranges

SB 247 classifies certain nonprofit shooting ranges as "Class four property" for taxation purposes, affecting organizations that operate these ranges and are exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4). The bill establishes a specific property tax rate for these qualifying ranges, taxing them at one-half the rate applied to general commercial property. It defines a "shooting range" as the necessary buildings, improvements, and up to 150 acres of appurtenant land, excluding residential or general commercial business uses. These changes will apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces property tax rate for qualifying shooting ranges, providing targeted tax relief under state taxation policy95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 12, 2025

HB 411: Exempt agricultural property from open space levies

House Bill 411 (HB 411) exempts agricultural property from local property tax levies that are used to fund open space initiatives. This means that owners of land classified as agricultural will no longer be required to pay the portion of their property taxes designated for open space purposes. The bill also allows counties to reduce any open space payments made to agricultural properties that are now exempt from these levies. This change applies retroactively to property tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing tax revenue for these programs and defunding open space initiatives.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing funding for conservation initiatives that protect natural areas and limit environmental protection efforts.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 611: Generally revise salaries for certain elected officials

HB 611 revises the process for determining the salaries of several elected state officials in Montana, including the Governor, Attorney General, and State Auditor. The Department of Administration is required to conduct a biennial salary survey comparing these officials' salaries to those in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho. If the average salary from the surveyed states is higher, that average will become the new salary for the Montana official, effective July 1 of the following year. This bill also clarifies that the State Auditor serves as the ex officio Commissioner of Insurance and Securities, with the salary changes for the State Auditor taking effect on January 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill adjusts state officials' salaries via regional comparison, directly impacting state budget allocations for public employees.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 341: Revise laws relating to brain injuries

HB 341 revises how funds are collected and used to support individuals and families, including military service personnel, living with traumatic brain injuries. It changes the existing voluntary donation for traumatic brain injury awareness during motor vehicle registration to an automatic $1 donation, from which individuals can opt out. The collected funds will be used by the Department of Public Health and Human Services for TBI prevention, education, and recovery support, and county treasurers must post notices explaining this automatic donation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates mandatory $1 donation for TBI programs, allocating funds to public health services via new revenue stream95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExplicitly includes military service personnel in TBI support funding, advancing veterans' healthcare access through mandatory donations for recovery programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 40: Revise public water supply fee accounts

HB 40 establishes a new "plan review special revenue account" within the state special revenue fund. This account will receive fees collected by the Department of Environmental Quality for reviewing plans and specifications related to public water supply and public sewage systems. The funds in this account are specifically dedicated to covering the department's costs associated with performing these plan reviews. This mechanism aims to create a dedicated funding source for the regulatory oversight of these systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fee account for regulatory costs, promoting fiscal responsibility by ensuring fees directly cover associated department expenses.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 8: Renewable resource bonds and loans

HB 8 approves specific renewable resource projects and reauthorizes others, enabling the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to provide loans for them. These loans are available to various political subdivisions and local governments for purposes such as dam rehabilitation and irrigation system improvements. To fund these projects, the bill authorizes the issuance of up to $121,198,444 in coal severance tax bonds. Loan disbursements are subject to conditions including DNRC approval of the project's scope and budget, and the execution of a loan agreement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $121M in coal severance tax bonds for renewable infrastructure projects, using existing tax funds to finance approved initiatives under Appropriations and Coal Tax Fund subjects.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAuthorizes $121M in bonds for renewable projects via DNRC loans, directly funding clean energy infrastructure like dam rehab and irrigation improvements.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds renewable projects via loans/bonds, promotes clean energy and water conservation through dam irrigation improvements and DNRC financing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 56: Establish ambulance provider assessment fee program

HB 56 establishes an assessment fee program for ground ambulance providers licensed in the state. These providers will pay a uniform fee of 5.75% of their net operating revenues annually to the Department of Revenue. The revenues generated from this assessment are specifically designated to supplement Medicaid payments for ambulance services. The bill also outlines procedures for reporting, collection, auditing, and penalties for non-compliance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates mandatory 5.75% fee on ambulance providers to generate revenue specifically designated for Medicaid ambulance payments, directly funding public healthcare services via new state revenue.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes fee to fund ambulance services via Medicaid supplementation, directly supporting healthcare access and provider reimbursement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 156: Revise education funding laws by replacing school district BASE levies with countywide BASE levies

HB 156 revises public education funding by replacing individual school district property tax levies for base budgets with a single countywide property tax levy. This new countywide levy, supported by state aid, will fund the basic operating expenses for all school districts within a county. The bill also adjusts state guaranteed tax base aid from a district to a county level and reduces required tuition payments. These changes impact school districts, local taxpayers, and revise the duties of school and county officials regarding education funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill replaces district levies with countywide levies supported by state aid, ensuring stable education funding without increasing local tax burdens, aligning with fiscal responsibility and public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReplaces school district levies with countywide system using state aid to fund basic operations, reduces tuition payments, and adjusts state aid to strengthen school financing structure.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 162: Revise definition of infrastructure for resort tax

House Bill 162 revises the definition of "infrastructure" for communities that levy a resort tax. This bill expands the types of projects that can be funded by a resort tax to include "workforce and community housing projects." Previously, resort tax funds for infrastructure were primarily allocated to traditional public services like water, sewer, roads, and public safety. This change allows resort communities and areas to utilize resort tax revenue for housing initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands resort tax revenue use to fund housing projects, redirecting existing tax funds toward community housing initiatives under local finance.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands resort tax funding to include workforce/community housing projects, directly advancing housing development through municipal revenue allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 223: Allow interest earned on workforce housing appropriations to be retained

SB 223 amends an existing law to ensure that any interest or income earned from a $12 million fund for workforce housing is retained within that fund. This fund is specifically allocated to assist employees working at state facilities that house state inmates or behavioral health patients, particularly in eligible rural counties. By retaining the earned interest, the bill aims to increase the total resources available for initiatives such as buying down construction costs, providing loans, or acquiring housing for these employees. The bill takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to interest earned on or after June 14, 2023.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRetains interest in workforce housing fund to increase resources for housing initiatives, promoting fiscal responsibility and funding essential programs within state appropriations.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRetains interest in workforce housing fund, increasing resources for housing initiatives in rural counties, directly funding affordable housing development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRetains interest in workforce housing fund to increase resources for employee housing at state facilities, directly supporting employment conditions for workers in eligible rural counties.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes