HB 831 increases Montana's elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit to help low-to-moderate-income seniors. It raises the maximum credit from $1,150 to $1,400 and increases the household income threshold for eligibility from $35,000 to $50,000 before the credit phases out. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments to maintain the credit's value and applies retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024. This directly benefits Montanans aged 65+ who own or rent homes and meet the updated income limits.
SB 424 would have expanded Montana's disabled veteran property tax assistance program to include veterans rated 60% to 90% disabled (previously only 100% or 80%+). It updated tax rate reductions based on income, adding new multipliers for 80-90% disabled veterans (e.g., 70% reduction for $0-$45,803 income) while maintaining existing rates for 100% disabled veterans. The bill directly affected disabled veterans with 60-90% service-connected disabilities (or surviving spouses) who own and occupy their primary residence as a qualifying property. The proposed changes were not enacted, as the bill was vetoed by the governor on June 9, 2025, and the veto override failed on July 14.
HB 810 prohibits Montana landlords from charging extra fees based on how tenants pay rent (e.g., credit card or online payments), except to cover actual bank fees incurred for electronic payments. It defines "rent payment type" to include cash, checks, electronic methods, or other agreed-upon forms. The law directly affects all Montana tenants and landlords by standardizing payment terms in rental agreements. It amends existing tenant-landlord statutes to eliminate discriminatory fees while clarifying acceptable payment methods.
HB 154 would have created a new tax credit for Montana renters and homeowners with household incomes under $150,000. The credit would equal 75% of either property taxes paid (for homeowners) or 15% of rent paid (for renters), minus an income-based percentage (ranging from 1% to 9.5%). To qualify, residents needed to have lived in Montana for at least 9 months and occupied a home or rental for 6 months during the tax year. The bill died in committee in May 2025 without becoming law.
HB 761 revises laws regarding residential property covenants, aiming to protect property owners' rights. It prevents the enforcement of any new or amended restrictions on property use that are more restrictive than those that existed when the owner acquired the property, unless the owner provides express written consent. Owners claiming this protection must record their exception with the county clerk. The bill clarifies how these protections apply to successor owners and maintains the validity of existing covenants, except for newly imposed, more restrictive terms without consent.
HB 871 aimed to prevent municipalities from requiring a zoning change, specifically from single-family to multi-family, for parcels of land located outside city limits to connect to municipal water or sewer systems. It would have amended existing law to explicitly prohibit this requirement. The bill also included a $1,000 appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality for updating related documents. This measure would have primarily affected property owners outside city boundaries seeking to access municipal utility services.
HB 304 revises residential tenant security deposit laws, directly affecting both landlords and tenants. The bill requires landlords to provide tenants with an itemized written notice of any unaccomplished cleaning and estimated costs before deducting cleaning charges from a security deposit. Tenants are then given 48 hours, extended from 24, to complete the necessary cleaning. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from charging a fee for inspecting the cleaning tenants have completed within this timeframe.
House Bill 647 proposes to prohibit nonprofit organizations from leasing state lands or timber. The bill directly affects nonprofit organizations and the state entities responsible for managing state trust lands. It amends several existing state statutes to make it unlawful for any official or employee of a nonprofit organization to lease state lands or timber on behalf of their organization. This change would restrict the state board's authority to lease state trust lands for commercial or other purposes to nonprofits.
HB 931 clarifies that developing single-family or multifamily residential housing can be considered a commercial purpose for leasing state trust land. The bill specifically allows nonprofit corporations to lease state trust land to develop "attainable workforce housing." It revises the definition of "commercial purpose" within state law to include such residential developments under a master lease. This change aims to enable the creation of housing for workers on state-owned land.
HB 492 revises municipal zoning laws by setting new limits on the minimum parking space requirements local governments can impose on new developments. The bill generally caps required parking for residential units at one space per unit and for commercial spaces at one space per 5,000 square feet, with specific exemptions for certain types of projects like affordable housing or smaller commercial spaces. If a city or town chooses to require more parking than these new limits, it must compensate the developer or property owner for the real cost of constructing the additional spaces. This legislation directly affects municipal zoning authorities and developers within those areas.
