SB 189 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Lower residential, commercial, and agricultural property tax rates

SB 189 lowers property tax rates for specific categories in Montana. It reduces the tax rate for Class Three agricultural land from 2.16% to 1.85% of its agricultural value, and cuts the standard residential tax rate from 1.35% to 0.76% of market value (with a reduced rate for homes over $1.5 million). Commercial property tax rates also decrease, from a previous 1.4x multiplier to 1.35% of market value. The bill applies retroactively to 2025 tax years, meaning affected property owners may receive refunds for past taxes paid under the higher rates. It directly impacts Montana landowners with agricultural properties, residential homes (especially higher-value ones), and commercial properties.
Bill status died 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Failed
Mar 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action May 23, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC2039.pdf SB0189_1.pdf · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Montana's property tax rates for agricultural and residential properties to mitigate the financial impact of recent property value revaluations. It lowers the tax rate for Class Three agricultural land from 2.16% to 1.85% and reduces the rate for high-value single-family homes in excess of $1.5 million from 1.89% (1.35% x 1.4) to 1.026% (0.76% x 1.35). The legislation also adjusts the tax rate for commercial property associated with these high-value homes and establishes a retroactive effective date for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
Scope change
The bill applies retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and the reappraisal cycle beginning January 1, 2025, rather than being effective only upon passage.
FISCAL

Reduced the property tax rate for Class Three agricultural land from 2.16% to 1.85% of productive capacity value.

Lowered the tax rate for the portion of single-family residential property value exceeding $1.5 million from 1.89% to 1.026%.

Adjusted the tax rate for commercial property linked to high-value residences from 1.89% to 1.026%.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date to apply retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and the reappraisal cycle starting January 1, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2025

How they voted

2228
Failed
Total votes 50
Mar 25, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
4 Yea 28 Nay
87% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Amendments
2
Apr 1, 2025
Amended
(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Taxation
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Vote failed
Senate Vote: fail (22-28)
senate
Mar 19, 2025
Amended
(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Taxation
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Taxation
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mary Ann Dunwell
Mary Ann Dunwell
DDemocratic
MT
42