Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 117: Revise government entity limitations on property tax increases

SB 117 revises property tax laws for governmental entities, affecting how local governments in Montana calculate their property tax levies. It modifies the maximum allowable inflation-based increase for property tax levies and changes how revenue from newly taxable property is factored into these calculations. The bill also allows cities and counties to establish a "large taxpayer reserve account," requiring them to deposit a percentage of revenue from newly taxable property into it. These funds are restricted and can only be used for specific purposes, such as reducing future mill levies or attracting new industry, if a major taxpayer experiences a significant drop in value or ceases operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill revises property tax levy limits and creates reserve accounts for fiscal management, promoting responsible budgeting and revenue handling per tax calculation changes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 767: Revise county predator control laws to include goats

HB 767 revises county predator control laws to include goats. It authorizes county commissioners to establish predatory animal control programs specifically for the protection of goats, often based on recommendations or petitions from local goat producers. To fund these programs, commissioners can impose a per capita license fee on goats aged one year or older. The collected fees and proceeds from selling skins of predatory animals are deposited into a dedicated predatory animal control fund for goats.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates a per capita license fee (tax) on goats to fund predator control programs, directly establishing a new revenue stream for government spending.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 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 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 · 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

signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 177: Allow community choice school commission to seek public funding

SB 177 authorizes the Community Choice School Commission to seek and receive public funding. The bill also clarifies the commission's existing ability to accept and spend gifts and donations from private individuals and entities. These changes directly impact the financial operations of the Community Choice School Commission, which is responsible for approving authorizers for choice schools across the state. This allows the commission to broaden its sources of financial support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes public funding for school commission, increasing state budget allocation for education programs per bill's explicit language on seeking public funds.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes public funding for school commission, expanding financial support for choice schools and clarifying donation acceptance to strengthen school finance operations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HB 166: Revise Montana historical society laws

HB 166 removes the termination dates for two specific financial accounts: the Montana Historical Society Membership Special Revenue Account and the Montana Original Governor's Mansion Special Revenue Account. This action allows these accounts, which support the Montana Historical Society and the Governor's Mansion, to continue operating indefinitely without a previously scheduled end date. The bill achieves this by repealing Section 6, Chapter 423, Laws of 2015, which originally established these termination dates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents defunding of two specific accounts by removing termination dates, supporting continued budget allocation for historical society and mansion programs.70% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 1: Resolution urging Congress to fully fund law enforcement in Indian Country

House Joint Resolution 1 (HJ 1) is a resolution from the Montana Legislature urging the United States Congress to fully fund public safety and law enforcement agencies and programs within Montana's Indian reservations. It also calls on the U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate with the Department of the Interior and consult with tribal governments to improve the administration and funding of tribal justice systems, including courts and victim services. The resolution further invites Montana's tribal governments and requests the Governor to send supporting communications to Congress, which the Montana Secretary of State will then compile and forward.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly urges full federal funding for law enforcement and tribal justice systems, directly advocating for increased government spending on essential public safety programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly urges full funding for tribal law enforcement and justice systems (courts, victim services), directly strengthening criminal justice infrastructure per resolution language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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