This bill revises how Montana allocates tobacco settlement funds, changing the percentages distributed between two state accounts. Under the new rules, 32% of tobacco settlement proceeds will fund statewide tobacco disease prevention programs aimed at preventing children from using tobacco and helping adults quit, while 17% will be used to match federal funds for the Children's Health Insurance Program. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services will manage the prevention programs and must follow established national standards when implementing them. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and any unspent funds from these accounts must be transferred to the state trust fund within two years.
This bill updates how Montana tracks the actual spending of laws that were expected to cost more than $500,000 from the state's general fund. It requires the Office of Budget and Program Planning to submit biannual reports to the Legislative Finance Committee every February and October, comparing actual expenditures against the original cost estimates provided in fiscal notes. The reports must cover bills that have been in effect for at least one full fiscal year and include details on how funds were spent alongside a comparison to projected costs. By repealing a previous termination date, this legislation ensures the reporting requirement continues indefinitely rather than ending on December 31, 2025.
This bill revises Montana's property tax laws to create lower tax rates for owner-occupied residential properties and long-term rentals, while also adjusting rates for certain commercial properties. It establishes specific eligibility requirements, such as requiring owners to live in a principal residence for at least seven months annually and rent out properties for at least 28 days per month over nine months of the year. The legislation includes an automatic qualification process for 2025 and 2026 for properties that previously received tax rebates, with a transition to a formal application system starting in 2027. Property owners must meet current tax payment requirements and can appeal decisions through a designated process outlined in the bill.
This bill requires public utilities in Montana to transfer any unused kilowatt-hour credits from customer-generated solar or wind energy to a state fund that supports low-income energy assistance programs. Under the new rules, when a customer generates more electricity than they use, the excess is credited to their account for the next billing period, but any remaining credits at the end of a 12-month period must be given to the utility without payment to the customer. The utility then contributes these credits to a designated fund administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, which uses the resources to help low-income households with energy costs. This change affects residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity and the public utilities that serve them.
This bill extends the deadline for distributing metal mines license tax revenue to Montana counties from 2019 to 2037. It directly affects county governments by ensuring they continue to receive a portion of these tax collections for a longer period. The legislation amends three existing state laws to update the termination dates, changing them from 2019 to 2027 and then to 2037. This change allows counties to maintain their current level of funding from metal mines licensing fees for an additional 18 years. The bill does not alter the tax rate or collection process, only the timeline for distributing the collected funds.
This bill directs Montana lottery revenue to be distributed quarterly to school districts based on the number of quality educators each district employs, ensuring funds go directly to schools rather than being held in a general state account. It expands how school flexibility funds can be used, allowing districts to spend money on teacher recruitment and retention incentives, facility improvements, technology upgrades, and curriculum development. The legislation also updates the state lottery commission's duties to prioritize maximizing net revenue for school distribution while maintaining oversight of lottery operations and reporting requirements.
This bill creates a tax credit for taxpayers in Montana who donate money to certified public infrastructure projects, allowing them to reduce their state tax liability by 50% of the gift's present value, up to a maximum of $500,000. The credit applies to donations made to state or local government projects that build or acquire facilities serving the public, such as health clinics, libraries, museums, and senior centers, which must be officially certified by the state department. To claim the credit, taxpayers must obtain a receipt from the government confirming the donation and the project's eligibility, and any unused portion of the credit can be carried forward for three years. The bill also adds this new tax credit to a list of other credits that the state's revenue interim committee must review every eight years to assess their effectiveness and impact.
This bill revises Montana laws regarding payment for sexual assault medical forensic examinations by establishing a dedicated state fund to cover costs when local law enforcement agencies cannot pay. The new sexual assault medical forensic examination fund will reimburse medical providers up to $800 per examination for victims of alleged sexual offenses, with excess marijuana tax revenue funding the account. Additionally, the bill modifies how surplus marijuana tax funds are distributed, directing a portion to the new examination fund and clarifying the restorative justice fund's sources and uses. These changes shift financial responsibility from local law enforcement to the state for certain forensic examinations while maintaining oversight through the Department of Justice.
This bill creates a dedicated funding account in Montana to support the design, construction, and maintenance of wildlife highway crossings and accommodations. It authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Commission to launch a specialty license plate program that generates $20 per plate to fund these projects. The account can be used for building underpasses and overpasses, conducting studies, and reimbursing the Department of Transportation for eligible wildlife crossing projects. Money in the account earns interest and remains available for future use, ensuring ongoing support for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and protecting wildlife movement across the state.
This bill updates Montana's unemployment insurance program by requiring the state to use databases to verify applicant identities and cross-check records against prison, jail, and new hire lists on a weekly basis. It also creates a lower tax schedule for employers with better unemployment insurance experience ratings and allows penalty and interest money to be carried forward across fiscal years. Additionally, the bill permits limited disclosure of motor vehicle records to help verify eligibility for unemployment benefits. These changes aim to improve program integrity and adjust how employers contribute to the unemployment insurance fund.
