Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 564: Revise government transparency laws

Senate Bill 564 requires the Department of Administration to create and manage a public website to increase transparency of state procurement transactions. This website will provide detailed information on payments made by state agencies, including the contractor's name, the purpose of the payment, and the amount. To help offset the costs of establishing and maintaining this website, vendors will be required to pay an application fee when submitting bids or proposals for state contracts. The bill aims to improve public access to how state funds are spent on supplies and services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds vendor application fee to fund transparency website, enhancing fiscal accountability and revenue management per bill's revenue subject and cost-offset mechanism.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Tags Government Transparency

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 409: Generally revise laws related to the department of commerce

SB 409 revises laws related to the Department of Commerce and changes how revenues from the lodging facility use tax are distributed. The bill modifies the allocation of these tax proceeds among various state programs and entities, including the Montana historical society, state parks, and regional tourism corporations. A key provision expands and permanently establishes the program providing emergency lodging for victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, funded by a portion of these tax revenues. It also adjusts specific uses for funds allocated directly to the Department of Commerce, such as for the renovation of the Miles City train depot.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds emergency lodging program for victims via lodging tax revenue allocation, expanding permanent funding for essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 24, 2025

LC 3705: Revise taxation of net long-term capital gains

Montana's LC 3705 revises tax rates for net long-term capital gains, directly affecting taxpayers with investment gains. It reduces the top tax rate from 4.1% to 4.0% for most income brackets and lowers the initial rate from 3.0% to 2% on the first $50,000 (married filing jointly) or equivalent thresholds for other filing statuses. The bill also adjusts income thresholds annually using an inflation factor to maintain bracket relevance. This change applies specifically to "net long-term capital gains" as defined by federal law, excluding other taxable income.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces tax rates for first $50k capital gains, providing relief for lower-income taxpayers per bill's adjustments to initial bracket thresholds.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 26, 2025

LC 3812: Create a technology interim committee

This bill creates a new technology interim committee to oversee Montana's state government information technology systems. The committee will review legislative appropriations for IT projects, ensure consistent application of technology-related laws across state agencies, and monitor best practices for emerging technologies. It directly affects the Department of Administration's IT division and state agencies implementing technology projects. The committee's work will focus on budget oversight, policy consistency, and ensuring Montana's IT infrastructure protects digital information.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates committee to review IT appropriations and ensure fiscal oversight, promoting responsible budget management per summary's focus on budget oversight.85% confidence

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 28, 2025

LC 4259: Authorize transfers and other necessary measures to implement HB2 Section A

This bill requires Montana state agencies, including the Department of Revenue, Department of Labor and Industry, and Department of Military Affairs, to submit detailed written reports to the general government budget committee every three months. The reports cover specific topics like implementation status of other bills (e.g., HB 56 on cannabis, HB 718 on incarcerated education), budgeting, hiring, property management, and funding use. It also removes the Department of Military Affairs' authority to carry forward unspent funds for the biennium and amends a state code section on disposal of unexpended appropriations. These provisions aim to increase transparency and oversight of state spending and agency operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires quarterly budget oversight reports to ensure fiscal responsibility, aligning with Appropriations and State Finance subjects.80% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 1986: Create a trades program scholarship

This bill aimed to establish a scholarship program for students enrolled in trades training programs (e.g., plumbing, electrical work, welding). It would have provided financial support to help cover tuition and materials for eligible students. However, the bill was withdrawn from consideration in May 2025 and did not advance to become law. The proposal never moved beyond the drafting stage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly proposes state funding for vocational scholarships, directly allocating budget resources to support education programs per its summary.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly creates scholarship funding for vocational education programs, directly advancing educational access and support for trades training students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Student Financial Aid

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2848: Provide an appropriation for a behavioral health facility

This bill (LC 2848) was a proposed funding request for a behavioral health facility, intended to provide state budget resources for its operation or construction. It directly affected the facility and potentially the community it serves, though specific details about the facility or funding amount were not included in the available context. The bill was drafted in December 2024 but was never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as it "died in process" on May 27, 2025, meaning it did not receive committee consideration or a vote. No concrete policy changes or mechanisms were enacted, as the bill did not become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill proposes appropriation (funding) for behavioral health facility, directly advancing government spending on public health services per appropriations subject.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill proposes state funding for a behavioral health facility, directly advancing mental health services through appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 700: Changing the amortization period for statewide DB retirement systems to 25 years

House Bill 700 (HB 700) proposes to shorten the maximum amortization period for statewide defined benefit public employee retirement systems from 30 years to 25 years. This change directly affects the funding requirements for various public employee retirement plans, including those for general public employees, judges, highway patrol officers, sheriffs, police officers, firefighters, and teachers. The bill specifies that contributions must be sufficient to cover future benefits and amortize unfunded liabilities over this shorter 25-year period. Additionally, it establishes that no new benefits can be added to these systems unless they can amortize within 25 years or less and are projected to be fully funded.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesShortens amortization period to 25 years, requiring higher annual state contributions to fund retirement systems, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentShortens retirement amortization period to protect public employee benefits (e.g., teachers, police) by ensuring faster funding of unfunded liabilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Public Employees Retirement Benefits

Track

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 357: Provide funding for middle school career and technical education

HB 357 provides state funding specifically for career and technical education (CTE) programs in middle schools, junior high schools, and 7th and 8th-grade programs. It directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to annually distribute these funds to eligible elementary and K-12 school districts. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to support these programs. The Superintendent will adopt rules to ensure equitable distribution and proper use of the funds, enhancing existing federal support without school size restrictions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $100,000 from general fund for middle school CTE programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for education as per Appropriations subject.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $100k for middle school CTE funding, directly advancing vocational education programs through state financial support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Career & Technical Education School Funding

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 89: Provide deadline to file for property tax relief from a disaster

HB 89 amends Montana's property tax law to require taxpayers to file claims for disaster-related property tax relief within 2 years of a natural disaster destroying their property. This directly affects Montana homeowners and property owners who suffer damage from events like fires, floods, or earthquakes (including fires regardless of origin, unless arson is convicted). The key provision establishes a clear deadline for filing claims, replacing the previous lack of time limit, and clarifies how tax adjustments are calculated based on the days property existed before and after the disaster. The bill takes immediate effect upon the Governor's signature, which occurred on April 7, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables timely access to existing property tax relief for disaster victims, facilitating tax benefits without altering rates or funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax