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HB 85 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Reinstating former employer contributions for JRS, HPORS, SRS, GWPORS

HB 85 reinstates former employer contribution rates for four specific public employee retirement systems: the Judges', Highway Patrol Officers', Sheriffs', and Game Wardens' and Peace Officers' Retirement Systems. This directly impacts the governmental entities that employ these personnel and contribute to their pensions. The bill also amends the state's property tax levy calculation procedures, outlining how local governments determine their maximum mill levies based on factors like prior year assessments and newly taxable property. It specifically exempts certain levies, such as those funding the sheriffs' retirement system, from these new
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReinstates employer pension contributions, increasing state spending on public employee retirement systems, supporting fiscal responsibility for essential programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReinstates employer pension contributions for public employees, protecting retirement benefits which fall under employment standards and worker benefits.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Dec 16, 2024 Signed May 16, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 9 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0085_X(3).pdf → HB0085_X(4).pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was reorganized to list retirement systems in a different order, removing the Judges' Retirement System from the title's primary focus while keeping it in the operative text. A new provision was added to allow certain properties to be classified as nonqualified agricultural land, expanding tax exemptions for specific land types. The bill also retains the reinstatement of former employer contribution rates for various retirement systems.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include a new tax classification for nonqualified agricultural land, while the title was restructured to reflect a different ordering of the retirement systems involved.
SCOPE

The bill title was reordered to list the Highway Patrol and Sheriff retirement systems before the Judges' Retirement System, though the operative text remains unchanged.

ELIGIBILITY

A new eligibility criterion was added allowing real property to be taxed as nonqualified agricultural land under specific conditions, broadening tax exemptions.

FISCAL

The bill reinstates former employer contribution rates for the Judges', Highway Patrol, Sheriff, and Game Warden retirement systems, ensuring continued funding for these programs.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2025 · House Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

29–20
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Apr 15, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
11 Yea 20 Nay 1
62% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
62
Key actions
13
Committee
12
Amendments
1
May 12, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
May 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 22, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (83-15-2)
house
Apr 15, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (29-20-1)
senate
Apr 15, 2025
Introduced
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Committee
(S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) State Administration
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) State Administration
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Appropriations
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) State Administration
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) State Administration
lower
Dec 20, 2024
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Dec 16, 2024
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
MB
Marta Bertoglio
RRepublican
MT
75