HB 146 establishes new hunting license fees for sandhill cranes and swans in Montana. It adds $10 for resident and $50 for nonresident application fees for these species, plus $10 resident/$75 nonresident licenses for cranes and swans (requiring also a $5.50 migratory game bird license). All fees collected for these licenses and applications will fund Montana's wetland conservation efforts through the state special revenue account. The law takes effect March 1, 2026, after being signed by the Governor on April 7, 2025.
HB 18 redirects all revenue from bentonite mining taxes (collected after December 31, 2014) to a dedicated "school equalization and property tax relief account" instead of previous distribution rules. Specifically, 20.75% of this tax revenue must now fund school districts and reduce local property taxes, as amended in sections 15-39-110 and 20-9-331 of Montana law. The bill directly affects mineral producers who pay the tax and school districts that receive funding through the new account. This change applies to all bentonite mining revenue collected after 2014, shifting funds from prior county and state allocations to the equalization account.
HB 16 revises Montana's infrastructure loan program and tax credit rules. It removes eligibility for businesses to qualify for loans based on increasing wages or incomes of existing employees or employers. The bill also prohibits claiming infrastructure use fees as both a tax credit and a tax deduction, preventing double benefits. These changes apply to infrastructure loans made on or after the effective date and tax credits claimed after December 31, 2025, affecting businesses receiving loans and local governments building infrastructure.
HB 13 revises pay and benefits for all Montana state employees, including a $1.00 hourly or 2.5% base salary increase (whichever is greater) effective July 1, 2025, plus one-time lump-sum payments based on work hours: $1,040 for full-time employees, $780 for 20-40 hours/week, and $520 for under 20 hours/week. It also adjusts per diem rates for travel, increasing daily meal allowances to $8.25 (breakfast), $9.25 (lunch), and $16.00 (dinner) for in-state travel. The bill applies broadly to all state employees and was enacted into law on March 27, 2025.
HB 29 requires Montana's Department of Revenue to review all tax-exempt properties (like those owned by nonprofits or religious organizations) at least once every eight years. It mandates the department to publicly post detailed maps showing each exempt property’s location, owner, legal description, exemption type, and value, organized by county. The law also requires the department to report biennially to the legislature on review results, including numbers of approved/denied exemptions and their estimated values. This bill directly affects property owners utilizing tax exemptions and increases transparency about which properties qualify for exemption under Montana law.
HB 19 requires local governments (like cities or counties) to hold a public hearing before using tax revenue from a tax increment financing district to pay for bonds that would extend the district's life beyond 15 years. This applies when a local government wants to pledge future tax revenue to fund bonds for urban renewal or economic development projects. The bill mandates that the local government must notify the county and school district where the project is located and hold the hearing to determine if extending the district is necessary to fulfill its development plan. The law takes effect for bond pledges made after its enactment date.
