Budget & Taxes

SB 228 revises laws related to public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, affecting EV owners and charging station operators. The bill imposes a 3-cent per kilowatt-hour tax on electricity delivered to public charging stations, with specific effective dates for new and existing stations. It mandates that all public charging stations install a separate electric meter, with the owner responsible for installation costs. Additionally, the bill eliminates a future 30% reduction in state registration fees for electric vehicles. Public charging station operators are also required to register with the state and disclose their charging rates.

HB 89 amends Montana's property tax law to require taxpayers to file claims for disaster-related property tax relief within 2 years of a natural disaster destroying their property. This directly affects Montana homeowners and property owners who suffer damage from events like fires, floods, or earthquakes (including fires regardless of origin, unless arson is convicted). The key provision establishes a clear deadline for filing claims, replacing the previous lack of time limit, and clarifies how tax adjustments are calculated based on the days property existed before and after the disaster. The bill takes immediate effect upon the Governor's signature, which occurred on April 7, 2025.

HB 3 is a funding bill that allocates specific amounts to Montana state agencies for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and continues some funding into the 2025-2026 biennium. It provides $22.2 million to the Public Health and Human Services Division, $12.5 million to the State Public Defender's Conflict Division, $4.07 million to the Montana Highway Patrol, and other sums to agencies like Revenue, Corrections, and Fish and Wildlife. The bill directs these funds for existing agency operations, with unspent balances reverting to their respective funds. It became law immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025, without requiring additional legislative action. This is a routine budget measure affecting state agency operations, not a policy change impacting citizens.

HB 65 requires a one-time audit of the Montana State Bar Association by the legislative auditor, focusing on its funding sources, spending over the past decade, and operational costs. The judicial branch must cover the full audit cost, and the results must be submitted to legislative committees and posted online by December 15, 2026. The audit will examine how the bar uses public funds and aligns with its legal responsibilities. This bill directly affects the Montana State Bar and the judicial branch, mandating transparency in its financial operations without altering existing laws.