Rep. Scott Rosenzweig

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 847 proposed to provide funding for grizzly bear management in Montana. The bill aimed to appropriate $210,000 annually from the general license account to the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) for the biennium starting July 1, 2025. This funding was specifically designated to create and support two new full-time bear technician positions within FWP Region 3, located in Southwest Montana. These technicians would assist in managing human-wildlife interactions and conflicts as grizzly bear populations expand in the region. The legislature intended for this appropriation to become part of FWP's ongoing base funding.

Maddy summaryHB 783 aimed to revise health insurance laws by requiring coverage for specific conditions and treatments. It would have mandated individual health insurance policies to cover glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome when medically necessary, including for diagnoses of diabetes or class 3 obesity. While allowing standard cost-sharing and cost containment measures, the bill prohibited special limitations on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Additionally, it sought to add other mandatory coverages, such as fertility preservation services and therapies for Down syndrome, to state group health plans. The bill would have affected individuals with these conditions and those covered by applicable health insurance policies in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 868 sought to revise the state income tax rates for net long-term capital gains in Montana. It proposed replacing the current two-tiered tax structure for these gains with a new system featuring four distinct tax brackets. The bill outlined specific income thresholds and corresponding tax rates for different taxpayer categories, including married individuals filing jointly, heads of household, and single filers. These changes would have applied to income tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 784 proposed to revise the method for distributing state revenue to Montana's local governments for road construction and maintenance. The bill introduced "daily vehicle miles traveled" as a new factor in the funding allocation formula for counties, cities, and towns. Consequently, it would have reduced the percentage weight of existing factors such as rural road mileage, population, land area, and street mileage in determining each local government's share. These changes aimed to adjust how counties, cities, and towns receive funds to maintain their local roads and streets, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 914 proposes to revise the allocation of state lodging facility use taxes. It establishes two new state special revenue accounts: one for county roads and infrastructure and another for municipal roads and infrastructure. A portion of the lodging tax proceeds would be transferred to these accounts and statutorily appropriated for annual distribution to local governments. Funds would be distributed to counties based on the amount of tax collected, with minimum and maximum caps, and to cities and towns primarily based on population, also with a maximum cap. These funds are designated for the construction, maintenance, and repair of local roads and other infrastructure, as well as marketing projects.