Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

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 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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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 18, 2025

HB 234: Extend the use of funding for lead-in-schools appropriated in 2023

HB 234 extends the period for using funds previously appropriated in 2023 for projects addressing lead in schools. The bill reappropriates specific funds, originally allocated under Section 5, Chapter 763, Laws of 2023, subsection (10). This ensures the appropriations remain available for their original purpose until they are fully spent or the related capital improvement projects are completed. This measure allows schools to continue utilizing these funds for lead remediation efforts without a set expiration date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reappropriates existing 2023 funds for school lead remediation, ensuring fiscal responsibility by extending use period without new taxes or cuts to essential programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends existing school funding for lead remediation, ensuring continued investment in school infrastructure safety and compliance with original 2023 appropriations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 3799: Establish a stabilization fund for medicaid

This bill (LC 3799) establishes a Medicaid Stabilization Reserve Account within Montana's state special revenue fund. It requires transferring unused state Medicaid funding at year-end to this reserve, which can only be used to maintain Medicaid matching funds during projected general fund budget shortfalls (as defined by 17-7-140). The account cannot fund other state programs, and any interest earned must be reinvested. This directly affects Montana's Medicaid program and state budget management by creating a dedicated buffer to prevent cuts to Medicaid services during revenue shortfalls, effective for fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Medicaid Stabilization Reserve to maintain funding during budget shortfalls, promoting fiscal responsibility in state budget management without altering tax structure.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Medicaid Stabilization Reserve to maintain funding during budget shortfalls, preventing defunding of healthcare program per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 27, 2025

LC 3186: Transferring funds to local road and bridge account

This bill directs the state treasurer to transfer $30 million from the general fund to Montana's local road and bridge account by July 15, 2025. The funds are intended to support local road and bridge maintenance and improvement projects managed by counties and municipalities. The transfer is a one-time action, not an ongoing funding source, and applies specifically to the account designated under state law (15-70-132). The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, with the transfer deadline set for July 15.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $30M from general fund to road maintenance account, directly allocating state budget resources for infrastructure. Aligns with appropriations focus under State Finance.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $30M from general fund to local road/bridge maintenance account, directly funding transportation infrastructure projects per state law 15-70-132.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Bridges Roads & Highways Transportation Funding

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 28, 2025

LC 4457: Revise state finance laws related to the debt free account and the coal trust fund

This bill requires Montana's state treasurer to transfer all unspent funds from the state's "debt and liability free account" into the "coal severance tax permanent fund" within 10 days of the bill's effective date. The transfer applies only to unobligated and unexpended money in the debt-free account, as defined in existing law. If another bill (SB 90) fails to pass, the transfer would instead go to the "Montana school facilities fund" instead. The bill appropriates $100 from the general fund to cover implementation costs for the 2025-2027 biennium. It takes effect immediately upon approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers unspent funds to coal trust/school facilities funds, promoting fiscal responsibility and funding public infrastructure per state finance laws.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill directs unspent funds to Montana school facilities fund if SB 90 fails, explicitly advancing school infrastructure funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · Montana · Legislature May 24, 2025

LC 1169: Provide funding to address affordable housing

This bill (LC 1169) aimed to provide funding to address affordable housing needs, as indicated by its title. However, the available context does not specify the funding amount, source, target populations, or specific housing programs it would support. The bill was drafted but died in process on May 24, 2025, meaning it did not advance to a vote or committee consideration. No concrete policy changes or mechanisms were established, as the draft was never finalized.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly aims to provide funding for affordable housing, an essential public service, indicating support for increased appropriations within Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly aims to fund affordable housing programs per title and summary, aligning with support indicators despite dying in committee.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Affordable Housing Housing Finance

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1553: Establish a fund for parks and recreation

LC 1553 proposed creating a dedicated state fund to support local parks and recreation programs. It would have provided ongoing financial resources for park maintenance, facility upgrades, and community recreation initiatives, directly benefiting municipalities and local park departments. The bill did not specify exact funding mechanisms or allocation formulas. However, the bill died in committee process on May 26, 2025, and never became law, so no funding was established.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill proposes dedicated state fund for parks/recreation, directly allocating state resources under State Finance/appropriations subjects to fund public services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 313: Establish a grant program for aquatic recreational facilities

HB 313 aimed to establish a grant program to provide funding for public swimming pools operated by local governments and nonprofit organizations. It would have created a "public swimming pool infrastructure account" and appropriated $5 million from the state general fund, to be administered by the Department of Commerce. These grants were intended to support capital construction, maintenance, repair projects, and equipment purchases for eligible aquatic facilities. Grants of $25,000 or more would have required a 1:5 match, and funding was limited to $1 million per county and $500,000 per project.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M from state general fund for public pool infrastructure grants, directly funding public recreation services through appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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