Budget & Taxes

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

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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

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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 However, the bill was withdrawn from consideration in May 2025 and did not advance to become law.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

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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

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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

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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

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SB 228: Revise laws related to public charging stations for electric vehicles

SB 228 revises laws related to public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, affecting EV owners and charging station operators. The bill imposes a 3-cent per kilowatt-hour tax on electricity delivered to public charging stations, with specific effective dates for new and existing stations. It mandates that all public charging stations install a separate electric meter, with the owner responsible for installation costs. Additionally, the bill eliminates a future 30% reduction in state registration fees for electric vehicles. Public charging station operators are also required to register with the state and disclose their charging rates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 3-cent/kWh tax on EV charging stations, directly increasing tax revenue under taxation policy for transportation infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates EV charging infrastructure improvements with tax for regulation, supporting renewable energy adoption and clean transportation infrastructure expansion.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes regulations and funding mechanisms for EV charging infrastructure, directly promoting sustainable transportation adoption through public charging station requirements and tax structure.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Vehicle Registration

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 177: Revise tobacco, alternative nicotine, and vapor product laws

HB 177 aimed to update state laws regarding tobacco products. The bill proposed expanding the definition of "tobacco" to include alternative nicotine and vapor products, which would subject them to existing tobacco product license fees. It also sought to repeal a state prohibition, thereby allowing local governments to enact their own ordinances banning the sale of all tobacco products, including alternative nicotine and vapor products. This would have affected businesses selling these products and granted new regulatory power to local jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tobacco product license fees to cover vapor products, generating additional state revenue through existing fee structure95% confidence

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 119: Establish the Montana Cattle Committee

HB 119 sought to establish the Montana Cattle Committee, a new entity composed of seven Montana cattle producers appointed by the governor. The committee would be responsible for planning and conducting research, promotion, and educational programs to benefit the state's cattle industry. To fund these activities, the bill proposed a cattle assessment to be collected from cattle sellers, which would first require approval through a referendum of those sellers. Funds from this assessment would be deposited into a dedicated cattle special revenue account for the committee's use.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new cattle assessment tax to fund industry programs, directly establishing a tax mechanism for revenue generation under Taxation - Agriculture/Livestock.95% confidence

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