Budget & Taxes

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 902: Generally revise Montana SNAP program laws

This bill would allow Montana's SNAP program to request federal waivers to restrict purchases to healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and protein, and to limit EBT card use for household food purchases to individuals over 16. It also establishes a transitional benefits program that gradually reduces SNAP benefits as household income rises above 138% of the federal poverty level, with benefit amounts decreasing from 100% to 20% across five income tiers. The legislation includes reporting requirements for the department to track waiver status and spending patterns, updates legal terminology, and amends existing state laws related to SNAP funding and benefit administration.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts SNAP benefits and imposes income-based benefit reductions, limiting government assistance funding and reducing support for low-income households.85% confidence

Track

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 495: Eliminate the tobacco prevention advisory board

Senate Bill 495 eliminates the Tobacco Prevention Advisory Board. The bill repeals the specific section of law that established this board. It also amends existing statute to remove the board from the list of entities funded by state special revenue accounts, which are primarily used for tobacco disease prevention programs and the Children's Health Insurance Program. The direct effect is the dissolution of the advisory board, which previously provided guidance for these programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds tobacco prevention and CHIP programs by removing advisory board from state special revenue accounts, directly eliminating funding streams.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareDissolves tobacco prevention advisory board, removing it from state funding lists for tobacco disease prevention programs, directly defunding public health initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 536: Prohibit employing aliens not lawfully authorized to accept employment

The provided bill text, labeled as SB 536, does not match the requested bill number (HB 536) or title ("Prohibit employing aliens not lawfully authorized to accept employment"). Based on the provided text for SB 536, this bill revises the contractor's gross receipts tax. It creates an exemption for resident individuals and licensed businesses that are fully compliant with state income, payroll, and property tax obligations, requiring them to apply and be listed on the department's website. The bill also extends the carryforward period for related tax credits from 5 to 7 years and allows these credits to offset certain real property taxes. It applies to accrued credit carryforwards and has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill creates tax exemption for compliant businesses, reducing state tax revenue from contractor's gross receipts tax, weakening tax base.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 618: Provide for a Montana individual freedom act

House Bill 618, the "Montana Individual Freedom Act," aimed to restrict how state and local government agencies, including the Department of Military Affairs, could use public funds. The bill would have prohibited these agencies from spending money on memberships, goods, or services from organizations that discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. It also sought to prevent the expenditure of funds on programs related to "diversity, equity, and inclusion" or on political or social activism. The Attorney General would have been granted authority to investigate alleged violations and adopt rules for enforcement.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts state budget allocation by defunding DEI programs and prohibiting spending on organizations with certain policies, directly limiting government expenditure.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits discrimination based on national origin, a key immigration-related protected class, indirectly supporting immigrant rights.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 862: Prohibit funding of DEI in Montana higher education system

LC 862, titled "Prohibit funding of DEI in Montana higher education system," was a proposed bill that would have banned state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at Montana's public universities and colleges. If enacted, it would have directly affected all Montana public higher education institutions by preventing them from using state funds for DEI initiatives. The bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds DEI programs in higher education, directly restricting state budget allocation for these initiatives.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly prohibits state funding for DEI programs in higher education, directly defunding diversity initiatives as a core provision.95% confidence

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 23, 2025

LC 2266: Revise coal severance tax coal washing credit

This bill extends the expiration date of Montana's coal severance tax credit for coal washing from July 1, 2017, to July 1, 2027. The credit allows coal mining companies to reduce their severance tax liability when washing coal to remove impurities before sale. The bill amends two existing laws (2009 and 2015) to update the termination date and requires the secretary of state to notify Montana's tribal governments. The change takes immediate effect upon enactment, providing continued tax relief for coal producers using washing processes.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExtends coal severance tax credit, reducing state tax revenue and weakening fiscal base by providing ongoing tax relief to mining companies.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExtends coal severance tax credit, favoring fossil fuel industry over renewables. No renewable energy provisions or clean energy support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 604: Prohibit guaranteed income programs

House Bill 604, also known as the "Work Protection Act," aims to establish statewide uniformity by prohibiting local governments from creating or administering guaranteed income programs. The bill defines a guaranteed income program as one providing regular, unearned cash payments to individuals for any purpose, excluding programs requiring work or training. It prevents political subdivisions, such as counties and cities, from adopting related ordinances or rules. The Attorney General is authorized to issue cease and desist orders and pursue legal action against any local government that violates this prohibition.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits local guaranteed income programs, restricting government spending on unearned cash payments, thus opposing expanded public expenditure in budget management.95% confidence

Tags Local Government

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 4173: Revise taxation of of certain telecommunications property

Montana bill LC 4173 revises property tax rules to exempt certain telecommunications infrastructure from taxation. It directly affects rural telecommunications providers serving rural areas or communities with 1,200 residents or fewer, including those operating in no more than three counties. The bill creates a 5-year tax exemption for newly installed fiber optic or coaxial cable placed in service after July 1, 2021, requiring owners to reinvest tax savings into new Montana infrastructure within two years. After 5 years, the exemption phases out gradually over 10 years, ending at full taxable value.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts telecom infrastructure from property tax, reducing state revenue and weakening tax base for budget purposes.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExempts rural telecom infrastructure from property tax to incentivize fiber/coaxial network investment, expanding internet access in underserved areas.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Tax Incentives Broadband Access Telecommunications

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 26, 2025

LC 1727: Provide exclusion from income for certain income from sale of a newly constructed residence

This bill, LC 1727, creates a tax exclusion for a portion of income earned from selling newly constructed homes in Montana. It directly affects homeowners who sell newly built residences within the state. The key mechanism adds a new exclusion to Montana's tax code, meaning a specific part of the profit from these sales will not be counted as taxable income for state income tax purposes. This change modifies Montana's calculation of taxable income by removing this portion of sale proceeds from the tax base.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill creates tax exclusion reducing state revenue by excluding sale income from taxable base, weakening fiscal management per tax code modification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 1703: Revise tax rate for agriculture property owned by certain nonprofits

This Montana bill increases the property tax rate for agricultural land owned by certain nonprofits from 2.16% to 21.6% of the land's productive capacity value. It applies only to land acquired after the bill's effective date and owned by nonprofits not listed as exempt (such as churches, schools, hospitals, low-income housing providers, cemeteries, residential treatment centers, veteran housing organizations, or rural cooperatives). Nonprofits in the exempt categories remain subject to the standard agricultural tax rate of 2.16%. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesIncreases property tax rate for non-exempt agricultural nonprofits from 2.16% to 21.6%, directly raising tax revenue for state budget.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

Track