Budget & Taxes (Procurement)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 20, 2025

LC 3444: Revise reporting requirements related to public contracts

This bill requires the Montana Department of Administration to submit quarterly reports to the Legislative Finance Committee on public procurement activities involving contracts valued at $250,000 or more. The reports must include details such as the purchasing agency name, intended procurement items, funding sources, solicitation closing dates, and contractor information for both initial contracts and modifications that increase total contract value. These reporting deadlines occur on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 each year, ensuring regular oversight of significant state spending. The legislation applies specifically to procurement solicitations and contracts where the anticipated or actual cost meets the specified threshold.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enhances government transparency and fiscal accountability by requiring detailed public procurement reporting, promoting responsible budget management.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 26, 2025

LC 3305: Generally revise tobacco tax laws

This bill revises Montana's cigarette tax from $1.70 to $2.70 per pack of 20 cigarettes and updates related tax provisions for other tobacco products. The changes directly affect wholesalers, retailers, and consumers by increasing the cost of purchasing cigarettes and adjusting tax rates on premium cigars and moist snuff. Key provisions include maintaining a tax exemption system for tribal members on reservations through a quota-based distribution process, requiring wholesalers to obtain department approval before shipping untaxed cigarettes to tribal retailers, and establishing new tax rates of 50% of wholesale price for other tobacco products. The bill also clarifies refund procedures for wholesalers selling to tribal retailers and ensures retailers assume taxes have been paid unless explicitly stated otherwise on invoices.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases cigarette taxes, generating additional state revenue for budget purposes and fiscal management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Tax Incentives

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 20, 2025

LC 2016: Provide income tax credit for firearm suppressors

This bill creates a Montana income tax credit to help offset the cost of federal tax stamps required for purchasing firearm suppressors. The credit is limited to $50 per taxpayer and can only be claimed in the year the tax stamp is purchased, with any unused portion refunded if the taxpayer has no tax liability. The measure is designed to reduce the financial burden of complying with federal regulations on suppressors, which are currently expensive to register. The credit will be available for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and will expire on December 31, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides income tax credit to offset federal tax stamp costs, reducing financial burden and offering tax relief to taxpayers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Procurement

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 10, 2025

LC 2615: Provide grant funding for senior citizen centers

This bill creates a grant program to help nonprofit organizations and government agencies that serve Montana seniors over age 60 with construction, maintenance, and equipment needs for their centers. The Department of Commerce will administer up to $5 million in funding for projects like building repairs, remodeling, and purchasing appliances, with grants capped at $250,000 per project and $350,000 per county. To receive funding, organizations must submit proposals and provide matching funds or in-kind contributions for grants of $25,000 or more, while also following project management and reporting requirements. The program is funded through a transfer from the state general fund and is authorized to continue through the 2029 biennium, with the entire act set to expire in 2031.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $5M in grant funding for senior citizen centers, directly increasing state budget spending on public services for seniors.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 29, 2025

LC 634: Allow hunters to donate funds for archery equipment for disabled bowhunters

This bill creates a new program that allows hunters in Montana to voluntarily donate an additional dollar or more when purchasing hunting licenses to support disabled bowhunters. The funds collected through these donations will be deposited into a dedicated state account and used to purchase modified archery equipment for hunters who have permits allowing equipment modifications. The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks department will establish rules to manage the donation process and oversee how nonprofit organizations distribute the equipment to eligible hunters. This legislation amends existing state statutes to formally establish the program and its funding mechanism within the state's special revenue fund system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates voluntary donation program to fund archery equipment for disabled bowhunters, supporting state finance through dedicated revenue stream for public service program.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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vetoed · Montana · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 511: Provide grant funding for firefighting training facilities

HB 511 creates a $5 million grant program to fund firefighting training facility projects for local fire departments in Montana. The bill provides grants for building, upgrading, or repairing training facilities and purchasing equipment, with limits of $250,000 per project and $500,000 per county. Applicants must provide a 1% cash or service match for grants over $25,000 and follow safety standards, while the Department of Military Affairs administers the program. Funding is authorized for the 2025-2029 biennium and expires June 30, 2031.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M in state funds for firefighting training facilities via appropriations, advancing public safety funding through budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds firefighting training facilities with mandatory safety standards, directly improving workplace safety for firefighters (a labor sector) per Labor & Employment indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 21, 2025

LC 1442: Establishing a surcharge for hunters and anglers who lease land

This bill requires hunters and anglers who lease land for hunting or fishing to pay a 10% surcharge on their annual lease payment when purchasing a Montana conservation license. The surcharge revenue must fund the state's block management program, which supports wildlife habitat conservation. Applicants must disclose lease details - including annual payment amount, duration, and partnership structure - during license application. Failure to provide this information may result in a five-year suspension of hunting and fishing privileges.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 10% surcharge on hunting/fishing land leases to fund wildlife conservation program, directly allocating tax revenue to public service under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates 10% surcharge revenue to fund wildlife habitat conservation via block management program, directly advancing environmental protection through dedicated funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Procurement Conservation Wildlife

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 31, 2025

LC 4368: Interim study on procurement, no-bid contracts, and transparency on no-bid purchases

This bill (LC 4368) requests an interim study of Montana state agency procurement practices, specifically examining no-bid contracts and transparency around purchases. It directs the study to review all procurement items over $25,000 from the past four years, identify deviations from standard rules, assess potential waste or fraud, and track money paid outside standard processes. The study must conclude by September 2026 and report findings and recommendations to the next legislature. This affects all state agencies that purchase goods or services using public funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesStudy aims to identify procurement waste/fraud, promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending through transparency.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 564: Revise government transparency laws

Senate Bill 564 requires the Department of Administration to create and manage a public website to increase transparency of state procurement transactions. This website will provide detailed information on payments made by state agencies, including the contractor's name, the purpose of the payment, and the amount. To help offset the costs of establishing and maintaining this website, vendors will be required to pay an application fee when submitting bids or proposals for state contracts. The bill aims to improve public access to how state funds are spent on supplies and services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds vendor application fee to fund transparency website, enhancing fiscal accountability and revenue management per bill's revenue subject and cost-offset mechanism.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Tags Government Transparency

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 531: Provide tax credit for purchase of a firearm safe

SB 531 would provide Montana residents a refundable state income tax credit for purchasing a firearm safe, up to $300 per tax year. To qualify, the safe must meet strict security standards (e.g., 10,000+ lock combinations, 1/2-inch steel bolts, certified by a nationally recognized lab) and fully contain firearms. The credit directly affects individual taxpayers who buy qualifying safes, with unused credit paid back if their tax liability is less than the claimed amount. The bill aims to encourage safe storage but does not change existing firearm laws. It would apply to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, though it died in committee in 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides refundable tax credit reducing individual tax liability, directly constituting tax relief per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Procurement

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