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 146 establishes new hunting license fees for sandhill cranes and swans in Montana. It adds $10 for resident and $50 for nonresident application fees for these species, plus $10 resident/$75 nonresident licenses for cranes and swans (requiring also a $5.50 migratory game bird license). All fees collected for these licenses and applications will fund Montana's wetland conservation efforts through the state special revenue account. The law takes effect March 1, 2026, after being signed by the Governor on April 7, 2025.
HB 18 redirects all revenue from bentonite mining taxes (collected after December 31, 2014) to a dedicated "school equalization and property tax relief account" instead of previous distribution rules. Specifically, 20.75% of this tax revenue must now fund school districts and reduce local property taxes, as amended in sections 15-39-110 and 20-9-331 of Montana law. The bill directly affects mineral producers who pay the tax and school districts that receive funding through the new account. This change applies to all bentonite mining revenue collected after 2014, shifting funds from prior county and state allocations to the equalization account.
SB 172 allows Montana resort communities and areas (designated under state law with populations under 3,500 that rely heavily on tourism) to use an additional 1% resort tax - previously restricted to infrastructure - specifically for workforce housing. The bill amends tax code sections to explicitly permit this new allocation, alongside existing infrastructure uses, for communities that qualify under the defined criteria. It does not create new taxes but changes how existing resort tax revenue may be spent, directly affecting designated resort districts and communities. The policy shift aims to address housing needs for local workers in tourism-dependent areas.
HB 15 updates Montana's K-12 school funding formula to adjust for inflation by increasing specific dollar amounts annually. It directly affects all public school districts in Montana by raising base funding rates for high schools, elementary schools, and K-12 programs, including per-pupil payments for American Indian students and other targeted programs. Key provisions include annual increases for basic entitlements (e.g., $343,483 to $375,333 for high school districts by 2026) and adjustments to payments like the American Indian achievement gap ($235 to $256 per student). The bill amends existing law to ensure funding keeps pace with rising costs, effective starting with the 2024 fiscal year. The legislation was signed into law by the Governor on April 1, 2025.
HB 13 revises pay and benefits for all Montana state employees, including a $1.00 hourly or 2.5% base salary increase (whichever is greater) effective July 1, 2025, plus one-time lump-sum payments based on work hours: $1,040 for full-time employees, $780 for 20-40 hours/week, and $520 for under 20 hours/week. It also adjusts per diem rates for travel, increasing daily meal allowances to $8.25 (breakfast), $9.25 (lunch), and $16.00 (dinner) for in-state travel. The bill applies broadly to all state employees and was enacted into law on March 27, 2025.
