Budget & Taxes

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 883: Reduce supreme court budget

HB 883 aims to reduce the funding for the State Supreme Court for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025. If passed alongside a general appropriations act, the bill would set the Supreme Court's appropriation at $18 million and void any other appropriations to the court. It also prohibits the transfer of funds or appropriation authority from district court functions to the Supreme Court for that biennium.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds state Supreme Court by reducing budget to $18M and prohibits fund transfers, directly limiting court funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 902: Generally revise Montana SNAP program laws

This bill would allow Montana's SNAP program to request federal waivers to restrict purchases to healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and protein, and to limit EBT card use for household food purchases to individuals over 16. It also establishes a transitional benefits program that gradually reduces SNAP benefits as household income rises above 138% of the federal poverty level, with benefit amounts decreasing from 100% to 20% across five income tiers. The legislation includes reporting requirements for the department to track waiver status and spending patterns, updates legal terminology, and amends existing state laws related to SNAP funding and benefit administration.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts SNAP benefits and imposes income-based benefit reductions, limiting government assistance funding and reducing support for low-income households.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 440: Providing tax incentives to put Montana-produced food first

HB 440 aimed to provide tax incentives for the sale of food produced in Montana. The bill proposed allowing both individuals and corporations to subtract income earned from selling Montana-produced food when calculating their state income taxes. This mechanism was intended to reduce the tax burden on those involved in the sale of local food products. The bill sought to amend current statutes governing individual and corporate income tax adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax deduction for Montana food sales, reducing taxable income and lowering tax burden on agricultural producers per bill's tax incentive mechanism.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 373: Revise lottery proceeds laws to dedicate to education funding

HB 373 aimed to revise the allocation of excess state lottery revenue, dedicating it to education funding instead of the state general fund. The Office of Public Instruction would distribute these funds quarterly to school districts based on a per-quality-educator formula. Districts would deposit these funds into their school flexibility funds, which could be used for various expenditures, including teacher salaries, benefits, housing, technology enhancements, and facility improvements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing lottery revenue to education funding, increasing public service allocation without new taxes or tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill redirects lottery revenue to education funding, earmarked for teacher salaries, benefits, and infrastructure - directly increases school funding allocation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill dedicates lottery funds for teacher salaries, benefits, and workplace improvements per school district formula, directly funding labor-related employment costs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 27: Remove automatic agricultural classification for certain parcels

HB 27 revises the criteria for classifying land as agricultural for property tax valuation. The bill introduces an application and review process for certain agricultural properties, moving away from automatic classification. It also increases the required annual gross income for parcels between 20 and 160 acres to qualify as agricultural land. Furthermore, it establishes a new "idle land" classification with a revised tax rate, replacing the prior "nonqualified agricultural property" classification, directly affecting property owners with these land types.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCloses agricultural tax loophole by requiring higher income thresholds and application process, increasing tax revenue from non-qualifying parcels through revised classification.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 951: Transferring funds to local road and bridge account

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $30M from general fund to road infrastructure, directly allocating state budget funds to support essential public infrastructure projects.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationTransfers $30M to local road/bridge projects, directly funding infrastructure improvements per bill summary and subjects.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 329: Make the Montana ammunition act permanent

HB 329 aims to encourage the formation of ammunition component manufacturing businesses in Montana. It establishes various state tax exemptions for qualified manufacturers, including property, individual income, corporate income, and other business-related taxes. To receive these exemptions, manufacturers must make their products available to in-state consumers at prices no higher than those for out-of-state purchasers. Additionally, the bill provides individual and corporate income tax exemptions to investors and lenders who provide loans to these eligible ammunition component manufacturers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax exemptions for corporate, property, and individual income taxes for ammunition manufacturers, constituting tax relief that aligns with support indicators for tax policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 560: Provide for a hospital community benefit fee

SB 560 requires nonprofit hospitals to report their annual charity care and community benefit spending to the state. The bill mandates that a nonprofit hospital's total community benefit must exceed the amount of property taxes it would have paid if it were not tax-exempt. If a hospital's reported community benefit does not meet this threshold, a fee equal to the difference will be assessed. These collected fees are then deposited into a new Critical Access Health Care Special Revenue Account, which provides funding to critical access hospitals not affiliated with other hospitals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates fees from tax-exempt hospitals to fund critical health care access, creating new state revenue for public services while ensuring proportional community benefit.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates hospital community benefits funding via fees, directing collected funds to Critical Access Health Care Special Revenue Account, directly increasing healthcare program funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 55: Revising public utility resource planning laws

HB 55 revises the laws governing how public utilities plan for their customers' future energy needs. It requires public utilities to submit detailed resource plans every three years, including evaluations of renewable energy and demand-side management scenarios, and to hold more public meetings before submitting these plans. The bill establishes a special revenue account within the Department of Environmental Quality to fund an independent evaluator, paid for by fees charged to public utilities, who will assist in reviewing these plans. Additionally, the state commission can now engage independent consultants to evaluate utility plans, with these costs being recoverable in rates charged to customers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes special revenue account funded by utility fees to support independent evaluation, directly advancing fiscal oversight under appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates evaluation of renewable energy scenarios and demand-side management in utility planning, advancing renewable integration and efficiency standards.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires renewable energy evaluations in utility plans and funds DEQ independent evaluator via utility fees, advancing clean energy planning and environmental oversight.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 253: Revise administrative and certification processes for student scholarship organizations

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables tax-credit donations for SSOs, directing private funds toward education scholarships via tax incentives, aligning with fiscal policy for program funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates scholarship funding mechanism via tax-credit donations, mandates 90% allocation to scholarships, and ensures parental education provider choice - expanding access and funding pathways for students.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes