Budget & Taxes

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 2523: Provide for a Montana individual freedom act

This bill establishes the Montana Individual Freedom Act, which prohibits state and local government agencies and the Department of Military Affairs from spending funds on organizations that discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. It also bars these agencies from using state, local, or federal money to support programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion or to engage in political or social activism. The Attorney General is given authority to investigate violations of these restrictions and may create rules to outline enforcement procedures. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all branches of state government, local municipalities, and military affairs units.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts government spending on DEI programs and prohibits agencies from using funds for social activism, limiting budget allocations for these initiatives.85% confidence

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 1448: Revise county clerk and recorder fee for recording documents

This bill increases recording fees charged by Montana county clerks and recorders for documents, affecting property owners, lenders, and other parties who file legal documents. It raises the standard fee to $20 for the first page and $10 for each additional page, with non-standard documents incurring an extra $10 charge. The bill also establishes a records preservation fund requiring a $2 deposit per page and allows fees to automatically adjust every two years based on inflation starting in 2027. These changes take effect on October 1, 2025, for all documents recorded on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill increases recording fees on property documents, effectively raising costs for property owners and lenders, which opposes budget relief for taxpayers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 1989: Revise property tax rates for agricultural, residential, and commercial property

This bill updates Montana's property tax rates for agricultural, residential, and commercial properties, directly affecting landowners and property owners across the state. It amends existing state statutes to change the tax percentage for agricultural land from 1.7% to 2.16% of productive capacity value and adjusts residential and commercial tax rates from 0.76% to 1.35% of market value, while also modifying how certain mixed-use properties are classified and taxed. The legislation includes specific provisions for nonqualified agricultural land, mining claims, and residential properties over $1.5 million in value, with tax rates applied differently based on property use and size. The changes take effect immediately upon passage and apply retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and the reappraisal cycle starting January 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill increases property tax rates across agricultural, residential, and commercial properties, directly raising tax burdens on landowners and reducing disposable income.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 18, 2025

LC 3320: Limit local government fees for children's use of parks

This bill limits the fees that Montana local governments can charge children for using parks and sports fields, setting a maximum of $25 per month or $10 for a three-day period. It directly affects counties, cities, towns, and special districts by prohibiting them from creating or enforcing rules that exceed these fee caps for children under 18. The legislation also clarifies that fees charged to children's sports teams must be calculated per individual child rather than per team, while excluding swimming pools, aquatic centers, and ice recreation facilities from these restrictions.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts local government fee-setting authority, limiting revenue collection from parks and sports fields, which reduces potential funding for public recreation services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Tags Local Government

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 1796: Prohibit guaranteed income programs

This bill prohibits local governments in Montana from creating or enforcing guaranteed income programs, which provide regular cash payments to individuals without requiring work or training. It directly affects cities, counties, school districts, and other local political subdivisions by banning them from adopting ordinances or rules that make such payments. The Attorney General is authorized to issue cease and desist orders to any local government that violates this prohibition and can seek court injunctions if the local government does not comply. This legislation aims to ensure statewide uniformity by preventing local variations in guaranteed income policy implementation.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts local government spending on guaranteed income programs, limiting budget flexibility for social services and welfare initiatives.85% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts guaranteed income programs, limiting economic support for workers and reducing employment flexibility options.90% confidence

Tags Local Government

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 10, 2025

LC 2078: Eliminate statutory reference to the adult basic education fund and its distribution

This bill removes the legal reference to the Adult Basic Education Fund from Montana state law. It directly affects the Montana Code Annotated by repealing Section 20-7-712, which previously governed the fund and its distribution. The change eliminates the statutory requirement for maintaining and distributing this specific education fund. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and does not create new funding or programs but simply updates the legal code.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill eliminates statutory reference to Adult Basic Education Fund, effectively defunding this education program by removing legal requirements for its maintenance and distribution.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill eliminates statutory reference to Adult Basic Education Fund, effectively defunding and removing legal support for adult education programs within the education system.85% confidence

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 2027: Require school district personnel to inform board of trustees of reductions in force

This bill requires school districts in Montana to provide written notice to their board of trustees when they reduce teaching staff due to insufficient funding. The superintendent or principal must submit this notice, which the board must then place on the agenda for their next meeting and allow time for public comment. The law does not apply to situations where a teacher's contract is not renewed for reasons other than funding shortages. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill requires disclosure of funding cuts but does not address the root cause of budget constraints, potentially limiting fiscal management transparency without solving underlying budget issues75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires transparency about funding cuts affecting teachers, protecting educators' interests and ensuring accountability in school district financial decisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 2192: Prohibit tax assessor entry to private property without permission

This bill requires the Montana Department of Revenue to obtain written permission from property owners before entering private land to conduct property tax appraisals or audits. It directly affects landowners and the state tax assessment staff by establishing new access rules that protect private property rights. Under the new provisions, the department must publish annual notices informing landowners of their right to be present during inspections and to request that an agent accompany assessors. If permission is denied or scheduling cannot be arranged, assessors must estimate property values without entering the land, and tax appeal boards cannot use denied entry as grounds to reject value adjustments unless the owner provides a certified appraisal. The law also clarifies that vehicle access is limited to established roads unless the landowner grants additional permission.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts state tax assessment operations by limiting access to private property, reducing government ability to conduct property tax appraisals and audits effectively.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 31, 2024

LC 984: Revise calculation of state education levies

This bill limits how much property taxes can grow for Montana's state education levies, specifically capping the increase at 3% above the prior year's revenue for certain state-mandated school taxes. It directly affects school districts and other governmental entities that collect property taxes for education purposes by restricting how many mills (tax rates) they can impose. The bill removes the ability to carry forward unused tax authority for specific state education mills and clarifies how newly taxable property and inflation adjustments are calculated. Local governments can still vote to raise additional taxes beyond these limits, but the state-mandated education portion is now strictly capped to prevent revenue growth exceeding the 3% threshold.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill limits property tax growth for education levies by capping increases at 3% and removing carryforward authority, restricting state education funding mechanisms.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill caps property tax growth for education levies at 3%, limiting school districts' ability to raise funds and restricts unused tax authority carryover, potentially reducing available school resources.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax School Funding

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 3442: Withhold entitlement share for non-compliance with child abuse reporting requirements

This bill requires counties in Montana to receive a reduced portion of their state entitlement funding if they fail to comply with mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting laws. The Attorney General would report any county noncompliance to the Department of Revenue, which would then withhold the county's share of the state general fund entitlement payment. This penalty mechanism directly affects county governments and aims to ensure they maintain proper child protection reporting systems. The bill amends existing state statutes to establish this financial consequence for noncompliance with child abuse reporting requirements.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill withholds county entitlement funding as penalty for non-compliance, effectively reducing government spending to counties.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track