Budget & Taxes

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 22, 2025

LC 1715: Provide property tax rebate on principal residence based on taxes paid

This Montana bill creates a one-time property tax rebate of up to $400 for homeowners who paid property taxes on their principal residence in 2024. The rebate is limited to the actual amount of taxes paid and applies to single-family homes, apartments, and manufactured homes where the taxpayer lived for at least seven months during the year. Eligible homeowners must submit claims between August 15 and October 1, 2025, by mail or online, and the rebate is not subject to Montana income tax. The bill also establishes penalties for false claims and allows appeals if a rebate application is denied.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax relief to homeowners, reducing their tax burden and offering financial assistance to residents.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides property tax rebate for homeowners, reducing housing costs and supporting affordable housing access75% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Property Tax Property Taxes

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 6, 2025

LC 591: Revise state wildland fire policy and funding

This bill updates Montana's state wildland fire policy to clarify the duties of fire protection entities and establish a mechanism for the state to bill federal agencies for suppression costs. It directly affects state and local fire departments, federal fire protection agencies, and property owners across Montana. The key provision allows the state fire department to charge federal agencies for costs incurred when suppressing fires within five miles of state or county fire protection areas, particularly when federal responses do not align with state policy. Additionally, the bill emphasizes fire prevention, hazard reduction, and the responsibility of all property owners and public land managers to mitigate fire risks through activities like thinning and prescribed burning.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes mechanism for state to bill federal agencies for suppression costs, improving state fiscal management and protecting state budget from uncompensated federal costs.75% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 12, 2025

LC 1905: Revise laws on Montana housing infrastructure revolving loan fund on deed restrictions, usage, and interest

This bill directs the Montana Housing Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund to keep all interest and income it earns rather than distributing them elsewhere. It also requires that the fund's principal can only be used if approved by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers. The legislation authorizes the state treasurer to transfer $50 million from the general fund to the account in 2025 and another $50 million in 2026. Additionally, the law applies retroactively to interest and income earned since June 2023.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state housing fund by $100M and retains interest income, strengthening fiscal management and funding essential housing infrastructure programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates $50M annually to housing infrastructure fund and protects principal with legislative approval requirements, directly funding housing development.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 17, 2025

LC 754: Extend at-home infant care program

This bill extends Montana's at-home infant care program from two years to three years for low-income families. It directly affects parents who provide full-time care for infants under three years of age and meet specific eligibility requirements, including income limits of 150% of the federal poverty level and work or education requirements. The legislation amends state law to allow families to receive up to 36 months of assistance instead of the previous 24 months, with funding of $2 million appropriated annually from the general fund starting July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases funding for infant care program, extending assistance from 24 to 36 months for low-income families, representing increased public service funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 10, 2025

LC 2039: Lower residential, commercial, and agricultural property tax rates

This bill lowers property tax rates for agricultural land, residential properties, and commercial buildings in Montana to reduce the financial impact of recent property value reassessments. It directly affects farmers, homeowners, and business owners by reducing the percentage of their property's value that must be paid in taxes. The key changes include lowering the tax rate for agricultural land to 1.85% of its productive capacity value and reducing residential and commercial tax rates to 0.76% and 1.07% of market value, respectively. The legislation also clarifies how mixed-use properties are classified and taxed, ensuring that improvements on agricultural land are assessed separately from the land itself. These tax rate adjustments apply retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and the reappraisal cycle starting January 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directly lowers property tax rates for residential, commercial, and agricultural properties, providing tax relief and reducing financial burden on taxpayers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 17, 2025

LC 3589: Legislative referendum on sales tax to fund education

This bill proposes a legislative referendum to let Montana voters decide whether to create a new sales tax of up to 4% to reduce property taxes for public schools and the Montana university system. The proposed tax would exempt essential items like groceries, housing, utilities, fuel, healthcare, and financial services to minimize the burden on consumers. If approved by voters in the November 2026 general election, the sales tax would be implemented to fund education while lowering property tax amounts for school districts and universities. The bill requires the full text and title of the measure to appear on the ballot for voters to consider.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill proposes new sales tax to fund education and reduce property taxes, directly advancing budget and taxation goals for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill proposes new sales tax specifically to fund public schools and university system, directly increasing education funding95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 6, 2025

LC 3338: Providing tax incentives to put Montana-produced food first

This bill proposes tax incentives for businesses and individuals who sell food produced in Montana by creating a state income tax subtraction for income derived from such sales. The legislation would amend existing state tax code sections to allow taxpayers to reduce their Montana taxable income when they earn revenue from locally produced food items. It directly affects Montana-based food producers, retailers, and consumers who purchase local products, aiming to support the state's agricultural economy through preferential tax treatment. The bill includes a delayed effective date and specifies when the provisions will apply to taxpayers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax incentives for local food producers through income tax subtraction, supporting state agriculture and economic development while reducing tax burden on qualifying businesses.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 17, 2025

LC 2021: Provide for a birth day tax credit for the birth of a child

This bill creates a new refundable tax credit for Montana residents who have a child born in the year they file their taxes, providing up to $3,000 to help offset state and federal income taxes. The credit amount is reduced for higher-income families, with phase-out thresholds of $60,000 for most filers and $120,000 for married couples filing jointly, and it requires parents to report the child's birth information on their tax return. Additionally, the bill adds this new credit to a list of other tax incentives that must be reviewed by the revenue interim committee every eight years to assess their effectiveness and impact on taxpayer decisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates refundable tax credit for families with newborn children, providing up to $3,000 tax relief, which supports fiscal policy by offering tax benefits to residents.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 27, 2024

LC 566: Extend the use of funding for lead-in-schools appropriated in 2023

This bill extends the use of lead-in-schools funding that was originally appropriated in 2023, allowing schools to continue using these funds until the money is fully spent or the projects are finished. It amends existing state law by adding a new subsection that reappropriates the funds for their original purposes rather than requiring them to be used within a specific timeframe. The change directly affects Montana school districts that received lead-in-schools funding and need additional time to complete their projects. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval, ensuring no interruption to ongoing work.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill extends funding availability for lead-in-schools, ensuring continued financial support for essential school infrastructure projects and preventing waste of appropriated funds.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill extends lead-in-schools funding, allowing schools to complete infrastructure projects and maintain access to critical renovation resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 31, 2024

LC 4: Revise government entity limitations on property tax increases

This bill amends Montana's property tax laws to revise how government entities can increase property tax levies. It directly affects state and local taxing units such as school districts, counties, and municipalities that impose property taxes. The key provision allows entities to increase taxes by the prior year's assessed amount plus half of the average inflation rate over the previous three years, capped at 4% total growth. The bill also clarifies how newly taxable property is treated in calculations and establishes specific rules for tax increment financing districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes property tax increase limits to promote fiscal responsibility and prevent excessive tax growth, protecting taxpayers from uncontrolled levies while allowing necessary inflation adjustments.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allows school districts to increase property tax levies, which directly impacts school funding capacity and financial stability for K-12 education.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax

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