Budget & Taxes

died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 3604: Revise school isolation laws and funding of nonisolated schools

This bill revises Montana's school funding rules for nonisolated schools with low enrollment. It requires school districts operating high schools with fewer than 25 average annual students (ANB) for two consecutive years - without isolated school status - to cover half of the school's direct state aid, mirroring the current requirement for small elementary schools. Previously, high schools under this threshold had different funding arrangements. The change applies specifically to districts with nonisolated high schools meeting the enrollment criteria, shifting half the state aid cost from state/county to local property taxes. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill requires districts to cover half state aid for low-enrollment high schools, reducing state budget expenditure on these schools.85% confidence

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died · Montana · Legislature May 20, 2025

LC 2231: Prohibit judicial rulings that impose a tax burden absent legislative approval

This bill requires Montana's legislature to approve any new property tax levy used to pay court judgments against local governments or school districts. It directly affects counties, cities, and school districts that might need to raise property taxes to cover court-ordered payments (e.g., after losing a lawsuit). The key provision states that such tax levies cannot be imposed without legislative action - either through an appropriation or specific legislation permitting the levy - unless payment is made via insurance or existing funds. The bill does not change how insurance or existing budgets cover judgments, only the process for new tax increases to satisfy court rulings.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts local governments from imposing property tax levies for court judgments without legislative approval, limiting unilateral tax actions under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Property Tax

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died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 907: Prohibiting the state from awarding grants to non-profits

LC 907 would have prohibited the state from awarding grants to non-profit organizations. This bill directly affected non-profits that currently or potentially rely on state grant funding for their operations. The key provision was a blanket ban on state grants to non-profits, though it did not specify exceptions or define "non-profit." The bill was drafted in 2024 but died in committee process in May 2025 without becoming law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill prohibits state grants to non-profits, directly restricting budget allocations for non-profit programs. Aligns with 'defunds essential programs' indicator under 'oppose' stance.95% confidence

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died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 863: Prohibit funding of DEI in public K-12 schools

This bill would have prohibited state funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in public K-12 schools. It aimed to prevent public school districts from using state funds for initiatives related to DEI, directly affecting school budgets and program offerings. The bill was introduced in 2024 but died in the drafting process in May 2025, meaning it did not advance to a vote or become law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly prohibits state funding for DEI programs in schools, directly restricting budget allocation and defunding these initiatives under State Finance/ Appropriations subjects.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationDefunds DEI programs in K-12 schools, directly restricting state funding for these initiatives per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 204: Sunset or reapprove existing voter approved property tax levies

SB 204 would have limited most voter-approved property tax levies (mill levies) to a 10-year duration without requiring reapproval by voters. It directly affects local governments - including school districts, cities, and counties - that collect property taxes, requiring them to seek voter reapproval before existing levies expire. Key provisions include setting termination dates for all levies after 10 years (unless exceptions apply) and listing specific exceptions for school levies, community colleges, law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services. The bill aimed to ensure ongoing voter oversight of property tax rates while maintaining stability for essential public services. (Note: The bill died in process on May 23, 2025, and did not become law.)

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRequires voter reapproval of property tax levies after 10 years, restricting automatic renewal of existing levies without public consent.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax

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died · Montana · Legislature May 23, 2025

LC 990: Revise property tax levies to fixed dollar amount subject to voter re-approval

This bill would have changed how local property tax levies are calculated, shifting from annual percentage-based increases to fixed dollar amounts that require voter re-approval before any change. It would have directly affected homeowners and local governments by altering the process for adjusting property tax rates. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill requires voter approval for property tax changes, restricting local governments' ability to adjust levies without consent, thus limiting fiscal management in taxation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 883: Reduce supreme court budget

HB 883 aims to reduce the funding for the State Supreme Court for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025. If passed alongside a general appropriations act, the bill would set the Supreme Court's appropriation at $18 million and void any other appropriations to the court. It also prohibits the transfer of funds or appropriation authority from district court functions to the Supreme Court for that biennium.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds state Supreme Court by reducing budget to $18M and prohibits fund transfers, directly limiting court funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 132: Exempt a portion of interest earnings from individual income tax

House Bill 132 aimed to revise individual income taxation by allowing taxpayers to deduct a portion of their interest earnings from their Montana taxable income. This proposed deduction would apply to interest income reported on a Form 1099. The bill specified that the amount of the deduction would be limited based on the individual's tax filing status. Essentially, it sought to reduce the state income tax burden for individuals receiving certain interest income.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill creates tax deduction for interest income, reducing state tax revenue and weakening the tax base, directly opposing fiscal strengthening.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 451: Revise tax increment financing districts to exclude debt service and certain school levies

HB 451 revises how tax increment financing (TIF) is calculated for newly established targeted economic development districts and urban renewal areas. For districts created after the bill's effective date, it excludes several specific mill levies from the tax increment calculation. These exclusions include certain university system mills, a portion of elementary, high school, and state equalization mills, new voter-approved levies, and mills for general obligation bond debt service. This means that a larger share of the new property tax revenue generated in these areas would directly go to the affected taxing jurisdictions, rather than into the TIF fund.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExcludes school levies and debt service from TIF calculations, reducing available revenue for economic development districts.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationExcludes school levies from TIF calculations, reducing potential school funding streams by removing these revenues from tax increment calculations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Debt & Bonds Tax Incentives

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 108: Require levies or bonds for judgments, settlements, or protested taxes to be submitted to voters

SB 108 requires Montana local governments (counties, cities, school districts) to get voter approval before raising property taxes or issuing bonds to pay court judgments, settlements, or tax protest refunds that exceed existing tax limits. Specifically, if a government needs to collect more tax revenue than permitted under current law (2-9-108) to cover these costs, voters must approve the levy or bond issuance. The bill amends multiple statutes to enforce this voter approval step for such "excess" tax increases. It does not change how governments pay routine expenses but adds a new voting requirement for specific, larger financial obligations tied to legal disputes. This affects local budgets when resolving court cases or tax disputes that require funding beyond standard tax allowances.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRequires voter approval for tax increases beyond limits, restricting local government fiscal flexibility on levies/bonds for judgments/settlements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Revenue

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