Budget & Taxes

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 5, 2025

LC 1726: Revise laws for approval of bond elections and mill levy elections

This bill updates Montana laws governing how bond and mill levy elections are approved, primarily affecting counties, municipalities, and hospital districts. It allows certain bond measures to pass with a simple majority vote if they appear on a primary or general election ballot in an even-numbered year, while raising the voter turnout threshold from 30% to 35% for bonds that require 60% approval in other election types. The legislation also clarifies rules for municipalities seeking to exceed their standard tax levy limits and establishes specific voter turnout percentages that determine whether bond propositions are approved or rejected.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill streamlines bond and mill levy approval processes, potentially increasing local funding capacity for public services while maintaining accountability through adjusted voter turnout thresholds.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 6, 2025

LC 2128: Revise tax lien and deed laws and provide equity threshold

This bill updates Montana's tax lien and tax deed laws to provide stronger protections for property owners facing delinquent taxes. It requires county treasurers to send detailed written notices to taxpayers and interested parties, including specific breakdowns of tax amounts and available assistance programs. The legislation also establishes equity thresholds that must be exceeded before a tax deed can be issued, mandates real-time online bidding for tax sales, and clarifies how surplus funds from these sales will be handled. Additionally, the bill expands protections for certain property types and streamlines administrative processes for handling delinquent taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens consumer protection by requiring detailed tax notices, establishing equity thresholds before tax deeds, and mandating transparent online bidding, promoting fiscal responsibility and protecting property owners from aggressive tax c...85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill strengthens property owner protections and requires detailed notices before tax liens/deeds, preventing loss of housing due to tax issues.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Taxes

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 15, 2025

LC 2642: Revise oil and gas production damage mitigation account

This bill revises how oil and gas production taxes are distributed in Montana, specifically changing how funds are allocated to the oil and gas production damage mitigation account. It requires that remaining tax funds after other allocations be deposited into the mitigation account, but only if the account's unobligated balance is less than $10 million; otherwise, funds stay in the board's expense account as reserves. The legislation also establishes specific percentages for distributing tax revenues to various counties based on production activity within each county. These changes directly affect the Montana Department of Revenue, oil and gas producers, county governments, and the state special revenue fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens state fiscal management by establishing clear rules for oil and gas tax fund allocation, ensuring funds go to mitigation when balances are low and maintaining reserves when higher, promoting responsible budgeting.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 22, 2025

LC 730: Revise commercial property assessed capital enhancement program laws

This bill amends Montana laws to allow local governments to create programs that help commercial property owners finance improvements for energy efficiency and public safety. Under the new provisions, local governments can enter into contracts with property owners to pay for projects like better insulation, renewable energy systems, or structural upgrades that improve a building's ability to withstand disasters or power outages. The costs for these projects would be repaid through special assessments on the property rather than through traditional loans or grants. The bill defines eligible projects to include energy-saving measures, stormwater control, and specific firearm storage infrastructure, while clarifying that the financing must come from a third party.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables local governments to fund energy efficiency and safety improvements through special assessments, promoting economic development and fiscal management.75% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill enables local programs to finance energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems for commercial properties, directly advancing energy infrastructure and efficiency goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Incentives Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 9, 2024

LC 627: Redistribute certain state tax revenue to primary residence property tax relief

This bill creates a state-funded property tax credit program for homeowners who designate their homes as primary residences. It redirects existing state lodging and rental car tax revenues into a special account, which is then distributed to counties to provide credits directly on property tax bills for certified primary residences. Homeowners must apply for certification by March 1 each year, and the Department of Revenue will verify eligibility while counties administer the credit payments. The program allows recipients to keep any excess credit if it exceeds their property tax bill, and it includes provisions for appeals and penalties for fraudulent applications.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax relief for homeowners through state-funded credits, directly supporting tax relief and fiscal management goals.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates state-funded property tax credit program for homeowners, providing financial relief and supporting housing affordability85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Sales Tax Historic Preservation Housing Finance Property Taxes

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 9, 2025

LC 1266: Revise Montana historical society laws

This bill removes the termination date for two special revenue accounts in Montana: one for the Montana Historical Society and another for the Governor's Mansion. By repealing a 2015 law that set an end date for these funds, the legislation allows these accounts to continue operating indefinitely without a fixed expiration. The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's passage and approval, ensuring the accounts remain available for their designated purposes without interruption.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill removes expiration dates for special revenue accounts, ensuring continued funding for Montana Historical Society and Governor's Mansion without interruption.75% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 28, 2025

LC 4306: Make the Montana ammunition act permanent

This bill makes permanent a tax incentive program designed to encourage companies in Montana to manufacture ammunition components by offering significant tax breaks. The legislation exempts qualifying ammunition manufacturers from state property taxes, business equipment taxes, individual income taxes, and corporate income taxes, provided they sell products to both in-state and out-of-state consumers at equal prices and do not commit all production to out-of-state buyers. Additionally, lenders and investors who provide loans to these manufacturers receive exemptions from individual and corporate income taxes on income derived from those loans. The bill also extends property tax exemptions to real estate within 500 yards of manufacturing facilities and storage structures, while excluding local property taxes and payroll taxes from the exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides significant tax breaks to ammunition manufacturers, reducing state revenue collection but promoting economic activity and job creation through tax incentives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 30, 2025

LC 3067: Require state agencies to provide timely information to legislators

This bill requires Montana state agencies to provide requested information to legislators within five legislative days of receiving a written request. If an agency fails to respond on time, a legislator can file a complaint with the appropriations committee, which must hold a hearing within three days to review the issue. The committee may then vote to reduce the agency's budget by up to 5% and must report the hearing record to the governor, who can include the vote in the agency director's personnel file and consider disciplinary action. The law applies to all executive branch entities under legislative oversight and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enhances government accountability and fiscal oversight by requiring timely information disclosure, enabling legislators to better monitor agency spending and potentially reduce budgets for non-compliance.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 1888: Revise appraisal process for centrally assessed property

This bill updates Montana's property tax appraisal process for centrally assessed property by clarifying how independent appraisals are selected and paid for. When a property owner and the Department of Revenue agree in writing, they can jointly hire and share the cost of a qualified independent appraiser. If they cannot agree, the Department must select and pay for the appraiser, though it retains the right to modify the appraisal results while providing the original copy to the owner. The changes take effect on January 1, 2026, and apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill streamlines property tax appraisal process, potentially reducing administrative costs and improving tax fairness through clearer independent appraisal procedures.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 20, 2025

LC 4443: Revise allocation of the insurance premium tax to fund property tax relief

This bill directs the Montana Insurance Commissioner to transfer $10 million annually from insurance premium tax revenue to the State Property Tax Assistance Account, which is intended to provide financial relief to property tax payers. The legislation amends existing state law to establish this funding mechanism and includes an immediate appropriation of $50,000 from the general fund to support implementation. The bill is contingent on the passage of Senate Bill No. 90, which would create the state property tax assistance account, and will not take effect if that related legislation is not approved.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs insurance premium tax revenue to fund property tax relief, directly supporting taxpayers and strengthening fiscal assistance programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides property tax relief to homeowners, which indirectly supports housing affordability and stability by reducing financial burden on property owners.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Property Taxes

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