Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 19, 2025

SB 542: Generally revise property tax laws

SB 542 generally revises property tax laws, affecting various property owners. The bill freezes property values for tax years 2025 and 2026 at their 2024 levels, unless a decrease is determined by the Department of Revenue. It provides a property tax rebate of up to $400 for principal residences based on 2024 property taxes paid, which taxpayers must claim between August 15 and October 1, 2025. Additionally, the legislation reduces tax rates for Class Three agricultural property and revises rates for Class Four residential and commercial properties, including lower rates for owner-occupied homes, long-term rentals, and a portion of commercial property value.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFreezes property values for 2025-2026, provides $400 rebates for primary residences, and reduces agricultural tax rates - direct tax relief measures.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 85: 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

Topics ✓ 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 | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 326: Generally revise laws related to MEDIA Act film tax credits

SB 326 revises Montana's MEDIA Act film tax credits, extending them through 2045 and increasing the aggregate credit limit. The bill provides additional tax credits for production companies that hire veterans and enrolled tribal members. It establishes a fee for unused allocated credits, with these funds directed to a new film industry workforce training account to support workforce development. These changes aim to expand job opportunities and encourage investment in Montana's media manufacturing sector.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends film tax credits through 2045, increases credit limits, adds credits for veteran/tribal hiring, and uses fees to fund workforce training - expanding tax incentives and directing funds for industry development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credits for hiring veterans/tribal members and funds workforce training, directly expanding employment opportunities and supporting labor development.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides tax credits for hiring veterans, directly incentivizing veteran employment through legislative funding mechanism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 409: Generally revise laws related to the department of commerce

SB 409 revises laws related to the Department of Commerce and changes how revenues from the lodging facility use tax are distributed. The bill modifies the allocation of these tax proceeds among various state programs and entities, including the Montana historical society, state parks, and regional tourism corporations. A key provision expands and permanently establishes the program providing emergency lodging for victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, funded by a portion of these tax revenues. It also adjusts specific uses for funds allocated directly to the Department of Commerce, such as for the renovation of the Miles City train depot.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds emergency lodging program for victims via lodging tax revenue allocation, expanding permanent funding for essential services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 881: Revise medicaid buy-in program to include children with disabilities

HB 881 proposed to revise the existing Medicaid buy-in program to include children with disabilities. This would expand eligibility for the program, allowing more children with disabilities to access Medicaid services. The bill also included an appropriation and extended rulemaking authority for the relevant department to implement these changes. It aimed to amend specific sections of Montana law concerning Medicaid administration and eligibility requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill includes specific appropriation to fund expanded Medicaid eligibility for children with disabilities, directly advancing essential public health funding under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid eligibility for children with disabilities, increasing healthcare access through new appropriations and policy changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

Track

vetoed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 880: Establish a stabilization fund for medicaid

HB 880 establishes the Medicaid Stabilization Reserve Account, a state special revenue fund designed to help maintain Medicaid benefits during state revenue shortfalls. The account would be primarily funded by transferring any unused state general fund appropriations for Medicaid at the end of a fiscal year. Funds from this account could only be appropriated by the legislature for state Medicaid matching funds after the budget director certifies a projected general fund deficit. This mechanism aims to mitigate expenditure reductions in the Medicaid program, directly affecting the stability of services for beneficiaries. The bill also includes an initial appropriation of $50,000 for state Medicaid matching funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Medicaid Stabilization Reserve Account using unused general fund appropriations to maintain benefits during revenue shortfalls, protecting essential program funding through fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Medicaid Stabilization Reserve to maintain benefits during revenue shortfalls, preventing cuts to healthcare coverage and ensuring continued funding for Medicaid services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 56: Supplemental employer contribution for PERS, HPORS, SRS, GWPORS

This bill revises and expands supplemental employer contributions to several state retirement systems, directly impacting state and local government employers and the retirement funds for their employees. For the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), it extends the schedule of increasing supplemental employer contributions through fiscal year 2035 and then sets a higher rate. Additionally, the bill introduces new supplemental employer contribution rates for the Highway Patrol Officers' Retirement System, the Sheriffs' Retirement System, and the Game Wardens' and Peace Officers' Retirement System. These new contributions are intended to help address unfunded liabilities and cover the normal cost of benefits for these specific systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state employer contributions to retirement systems, directly funding public employee benefits through enhanced government spending on essential programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands supplemental employer retirement contributions for state employees, directly increasing retirement benefits and strengthening employee compensation standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 133: Revise impact fee laws

SB 133 revises the laws governing impact fees that local governments charge on new development. The bill removes the ability for governmental entities to include an administrative fee within impact charges and limits impact fee increases to the rate of inflation. It also updates definitions related to these fees and details the required documentation for their calculation, such as a service area report.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesLimits local government impact fee increases to inflation, restricting revenue generation for infrastructure projects and limiting fiscal flexibility.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill limits impact fee increases to inflation and removes administrative fees, reducing development costs to encourage housing construction, aligning with housing supply goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 247: Modify tax classification of shooting ranges

SB 247 classifies certain nonprofit shooting ranges as "Class four property" for taxation purposes, affecting organizations that operate these ranges and are exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4). The bill establishes a specific property tax rate for these qualifying ranges, taxing them at one-half the rate applied to general commercial property. It defines a "shooting range" as the necessary buildings, improvements, and up to 150 acres of appurtenant land, excluding residential or general commercial business uses. These changes will apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces property tax rate for qualifying shooting ranges, providing targeted tax relief under state taxation policy95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 12, 2025

HB 411: Exempt agricultural property from open space levies

House Bill 411 (HB 411) exempts agricultural property from local property tax levies that are used to fund open space initiatives. This means that owners of land classified as agricultural will no longer be required to pay the portion of their property taxes designated for open space purposes. The bill also allows counties to reduce any open space payments made to agricultural properties that are now exempt from these levies. This change applies retroactively to property tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing tax revenue for these programs and defunding open space initiatives.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts agricultural property from open space levies, reducing funding for conservation initiatives that protect natural areas and limit environmental protection efforts.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes