This bill (LC 995) aimed to revise state laws governing property tax assistance programs, which directly affect homeowners and renters who qualify for tax relief. It proposed updates to eligibility criteria, application processes, and benefit calculations for existing property tax assistance programs. However, the bill was placed on hold and ultimately "Died in Process" on May 23, 2025, meaning it never advanced to a committee vote or floor consideration. As a result, no changes to property tax assistance laws were implemented through this bill.
This bill, LC 1172, proposed a property tax assistance program for low-income elderly residents. It would have provided direct financial relief to help eligible seniors cover their property tax costs. The bill was drafted in late 2024 but was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process by May 2025, meaning it never became law. No specific details about the exact income thresholds, application process, or funding mechanisms were provided in the available context.
This bill (LC 2578) proposed updating the income eligibility limits and benefit amounts for the state's property tax assistance program. It would have directly affected low-to-moderate income homeowners by adjusting who qualifies for tax relief and how much financial assistance they receive. The key change involved revising the income threshold that determines eligibility and modifying the benefit structure. However, the bill did not become law, as it "died in process" in May 2025.
HB 916 aimed to provide property tax assistance specifically for primary residences. The bill proposed to fund this relief by revising the allocation of revenue generated from the state's lodging tax. This mechanism would have redirected a portion of the lodging tax proceeds, which are currently distributed to various state programs supporting tourism, historical preservation, and state parks, towards property tax relief for homeowners.
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.
SB 431 would have prevented homeowners' associations (HOAs) from enforcing new restrictions on residential property that are stricter than those in place when the owner purchased the property, unless the owner signed a written agreement at the time of the rule change. It required owners claiming this protection to record their exception with the county and notify other owners, while preserving existing rules that were already in place at purchase. The bill also clarified that HOAs couldn’t enforce changes to restrict uses (like renting or home businesses) beyond what was allowed when the property was acquired, except for rules required by law. However, this bill was withdrawn and died in process in 2025, so it did not become law.
HB 836 proposed creating a property tax deferral loan program for eligible senior citizens and active-duty military personnel in Montana. This program would allow qualifying homeowners to defer paying the portion of their property taxes that exceeds their 2022 property tax amount. The state's Board of Housing would provide these loans, which would accrue simple interest and become a lien on the primary residence. The loan, including interest, would generally be repaid when the property is sold or transferred, or upon the death of the homeowner, though a surviving spouse might be able to assume the loan.
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 713 revises municipal zoning laws, outlining procedures for cities and towns to establish, amend, or repeal zoning regulations, restrictions, and boundaries. It requires public hearings with notice for most zoning changes, but allows for immediate adoption of zone map boundary changes by resolution. The bill also permits municipalities to conduct joint hearings for annexation and zoning under specific conditions, streamlining the process for newly annexed properties. Additionally, it repeals a previous method that allowed for citizen protest of zoning alterations.
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.
