Budget & Taxes

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 649: Establish a farm to food bank program

House Bill 649 proposes establishing a "Farm to Food Bank Grant Program" to be administered by the Department of Agriculture. This program would offer competitive grants to organizations, such as regional food hubs, to purchase Montana-grown food products directly from farmers and ranchers. These purchased items, including fruits, vegetables, and meats, would then be distributed to food pantries across the state. The goal is to provide fresh, local food to low-income consumers while creating a new market for Montana producers, with a preference for applicants serving rural and tribal communities. The bill appropriates $3 million to fund the program for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a state-funded grant program (appropriations) to distribute food via competitive grants, aligning with budget allocation for public service funding.90% confidence

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signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 46: Increase registration fee for underground petroleum tanks

SB 46 revises the annual registration fees for owners and operators of underground petroleum or hazardous substance storage tanks. The bill increases the maximum annual fee for tanks over 1,100 gallons from $108 to $300. For tanks 1,100 gallons or less, the maximum annual fee is raised from $36 to $100. These fees help cover state and local costs associated with implementing the underground storage tank program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases registration fees to fund underground storage tank program costs, generating additional revenue for state fiscal management as stated in summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases fees to fund underground tank program, enhancing environmental protection by covering regulatory costs for leak prevention and cleanup.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

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

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Tags Tribal Nations

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signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 476: Establish grant program for newborn safety devices

HB 476 establishes a grant program to fund the installation and maintenance of newborn safety devices. The Department of Public Health and Human Services will award competitive grants, up to $20,000 per applicant, to eligible fire departments, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies. The department is also responsible for creating rules for the application process and evaluation criteria. The bill appropriates $160,000 from the general fund for this program, which is effective July 1, 2025, and terminates on June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $160,000 from general fund for newborn safety device grants, directly funding a public service program under budget authority.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds newborn safety devices in hospitals via public health department, directly supporting infant healthcare services and public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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

Sub-Topics State Budget

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 393: Provide funding for enforcement of PL 280

SB 393 appropriates $6 million from the state's general fund for the biennium starting July 1, 2025, to reimburse expenditures related to felony criminal jurisdiction on the Flathead Indian Reservation. The funding is distributed to Lake County and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Initial funds are contingent upon Lake County rescinding its resolution to withdraw from Public Law 280. Further distributions require an agreement between the state, Lake County, and the Tribes addressing cost-sharing for Public Law 280 implementation within Lake County, and Lake County's ability to withdraw consent for jurisdiction is restricted until at least June 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $6M from general fund for law enforcement reimbursement under PL 280, directly funding state program via budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates $6M to reimburse felony criminal jurisdiction enforcement under PL 280, directly funding law enforcement operations on tribal reservations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Tribal Nations

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 958: Authorize transfers and other necessary measure to implement HB 2 section E

This bill (LC 958) authorizes a specific transfer of funds between two state education accounts to prevent funding cuts for public schools. It directs the state treasurer to move excess money from the School Facility and Technology Account to the School Major Maintenance Aid Account if the first account has sufficient funds to cover debt service without proration (funding cuts) and transferring funds would avoid proration in the second account. This directly affects Montana public schools that rely on these state funding streams for facility maintenance and technology. The provision ensures schools receive full funding by strategically reallocating existing resources within the state budget structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents school funding cuts by transferring excess funds between education accounts, maintaining current appropriations without new taxes or defunding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents funding cuts for public schools by transferring excess funds between education accounts to avoid proration, directly protecting school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 26, 2025

LC 4235: Generally revise state policy laws

This Montana bill (LC 4235) directly affects travelers holding airline travel credits. It prohibits expiration dates on such credits, ensures the credit's value belongs to the person holding it (not the airline), and bans fees that reduce the credit's value. Travelers with credits worth less than $5 can request cash redemption. Additionally, the bill imposes a $1 fee on airline tickets to/from Montana, with revenue funding human trafficking prevention efforts at the Department of Justice.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes $1 airline ticket fee (tax) to fund human trafficking prevention, creating new revenue for public service under Taxation--Transportation.90% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 28, 2025

LC 3083: Create insurance website with insurance commissioner to assist consumers

This bill requires Montana's Insurance Commissioner to create a free, searchable website listing all licensed insurance companies and agents. The site must organize listings by insurance type (like auto or home), include search functions, and display the list in a randomized order daily. It prohibits fees for insurers to be listed, advertising on the site, or the commissioner accepting compensation to promote specific companies. The state appropriates $10,000 to fund this website's development and maintenance. The primary effect is to help consumers easily find and compare insurance options.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $10,000 for website development, directly funding a state program under government spending within Budget & Taxes framework.95% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 30, 2025

LC 3618: Establishing a Montana trade office in Israel

Montana's LC 3618 would create a state-run trade office in Israel to promote economic partnerships between Montana businesses and Israeli companies. The office, staffed by at least one person, aims to boost trade in key Montana-aligned sectors like agriculture (pulse crops, meats), technology (photonics, quantum computing), and cultural exchanges. It allocates $500,000 from the general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium, with the office terminating on June 30, 2033. The bill explicitly states the office is for promotional purposes only, not to regulate commerce, and seeks to strengthen economic ties with Israel as a global leader in relevant industries.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $500k from general fund for trade office, directly advancing state budget appropriations for economic development.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly lists technology (photonics, quantum computing) as a key sector for trade promotion, indicating support for technology industry development.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Emerging Technology

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