SB 204 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Sunset or reapprove existing voter approved property tax levies

SB 204 would have limited most voter-approved property tax levies (mill levies) to a 10-year duration without requiring reapproval by voters. It directly affects local governments - including school districts, cities, and counties - that collect property taxes, requiring them to seek voter reapproval before existing levies expire. Key provisions include setting termination dates for all levies after 10 years (unless exceptions apply) and listing specific exceptions for school levies, community colleges, law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services. The bill aimed to ensure ongoing voter oversight of property tax rates while maintaining stability for essential public services. (Note: The bill died in process on May 23, 2025, and did not become law.)
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Last action May 23, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0204_1(7).pdf SB0204_2.pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill text underwent significant formatting and reorganization, including changes to the bill number, title, and page headers. Substantively, the scope of the bill was narrowed by removing a section that listed exceptions for certain levies (such as community colleges and emergency services), while retaining the core provisions regarding the duration of mill levies and tax increment calculations.
Scope change
The bill's scope was reduced by removing specific exceptions for certain types of levies that were previously included in the title and text.
TECHNICAL

The bill number was changed from SB 204.1 to SB0204.2, and the title was shortened by removing a list of specific levy types (community college, law enforcement, fire protection, EMS) that were previously exempt from certain termination rules.

The internal structure of the bill was altered, with the section detailing tax increment calculations for targeted economic development districts being moved to a different position relative to the main title and enactment clause.

SCOPE

The title and introductory text were modified to remove a clause that provided exceptions for certain school, community college, law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical service levies.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 1, 2025

How they voted

3020
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 1, 2025
D Democratic18
1 Yea 17 Nay
94% Nay
R Republican32
29 Yea 3 Nay
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Mar 1, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (30-20)
senate
Feb 19, 2025
Amended
(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Local Government
upper
Jan 24, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Local Government
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Greg Hertz
Greg Hertz
RRepublican
MT
7