Budget & Taxes

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 950: Establishing a Montana trade office in Israel

House Bill 950 sought to establish and maintain a Montana trade office in Israel, staffed by the Department of Commerce. The office's primary goal was to promote trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Montana and Israel. It aimed to strengthen ties and expand opportunities in areas such as agriculture, technology, security, and educational programs. The bill proposed appropriating $500,000 from the general fund for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, to fund the office. This act was intended to be effective July 1, 2025, and terminate on June 30, 2033.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $500,000 from general fund for trade office, directly allocating state budget resources to fund a new program.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 326: Establish a tax on electrical energy not produced by coal to match coal severance tax rate

HB 326, titled the "State Energy Resource Severance Act," would establish a new 10% tax on the sale price of electrical energy produced in the state. This tax would apply to electricity generated from sources such as water, wind, and solar, but specifically exempts coal-fired electrical generation. The bill also reduces the existing coal severance tax rate to match this new electrical energy production tax rate. Revenue from this new tax would be allocated to special accounts, primarily for local government infrastructure projects traditionally funded by coal.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new 10% tax on non-coal energy (wind/solar), reallocates revenue to local accounts for public services, strengthening tax base and fiscal management per bill's explicit tax structure.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill taxes renewable energy (wind/solar/hydro) at 10% while exempting coal and reducing coal's severance tax, directly favoring fossil fuels over renewables.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentTaxes renewable energy sources while exempting coal, disincentivizing clean energy adoption and favoring fossil fuels over environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 148: Repeal state tax on social security income

HB 148 proposes to exempt Social Security benefits from the state income tax in Montana. This bill would revise existing tax laws by amending specific sections of the Montana Code Annotated related to income tax definitions. If passed, it would directly affect individuals in Montana who receive Social Security income by eliminating their state tax liability on those benefits. The bill also specifies a delayed effective date and an applicability date for these changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRepeals tax on Social Security benefits, providing tax relief to seniors (lower-income retirees), directly aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% 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 366: Provide appropriation to DOJ for Lake County reimbursement related to PL 280

HB 366 proposed to appropriate a total of $5 million from the state's general fund to the Department of Justice over two fiscal years, starting July 1, 2025. This funding was intended to reimburse Lake County. The reimbursement was for the county's role in assuming felony criminal jurisdiction over members of federally recognized tribes and the Indian territory of the Flathead Indian reservation, a responsibility undertaken due to Public Law 280. The bill indicated that this appropriation was meant to be an ongoing part of the state budget until Montana ends its participation in Public Law 280.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $5M from state general fund to reimburse Lake County for PL 280 jurisdiction costs, directly funding government spending and fiscal management per appropriations subject.90% 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 424: Revise taxes for class 17 data center property

HB 424 revises property tax classifications for data center property. It modifies the types of property included in Class seventeen for qualified data centers, and extends the timeframe within which this data center property must be built. The bill also revises ownership requirements for Class seventeen data center property. Additionally, it updates the classification of certain dedicated communications infrastructure in Class thirteen, extending its relevant timeframe.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill revises property tax classifications for data centers, providing tax benefits through modified classifications and extended timelines, directly advancing tax policy for a specific sector.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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 · House May 19, 2025

HB 833: Provide funding to increase correctional capacity

HB 833 provides funding to increase Montana's correctional capacity, directly affecting the state's prison system and the Department of Corrections. The bill establishes a "Future of Corrections Fund" and appropriates a total of $250 million from the general fund. Of this, $30 million is for system assessment, planning, and technology. The remaining $220 million is allocated either for constructing a new state correctional facility or, contingently, for securing additional capacity through other agreements, which may include private correctional facilities, if the budget director determines state construction is not in the state's best interest.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $250M from general fund to expand correctional capacity, directly increasing state budget allocation for public safety services.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