Budget & Taxes

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 40: Revise public water supply fee accounts

HB 40 establishes a new "plan review special revenue account" within the state special revenue fund. This account will receive fees collected by the Department of Environmental Quality for reviewing plans and specifications related to public water supply and public sewage systems. The funds in this account are specifically dedicated to covering the department's costs associated with performing these plan reviews. This mechanism aims to create a dedicated funding source for the regulatory oversight of these systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fee account for regulatory costs, promoting fiscal responsibility by ensuring fees directly cover associated department expenses.92% confidence

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 551: Revise fantasy sports laws

SB 551 would establish a licensing system for online fantasy sports companies operating in Montana, requiring them to obtain approval from the Department of Justice. It defines "fantasy sports contests" as skill-based games where outcomes depend on player knowledge (not chance), mandates background checks for applicants, and sets fees for licensing and criminal background investigations. The bill also creates tax rules based on "internet fantasy sports contest adjusted revenues" and requires companies to maintain records for audits. This bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax rules on fantasy sports revenues, generating new state budget income through licensing fees and tax calculations.95% confidence

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 150: Generally revise alcohol and tobacco laws

SB 150 creates a new "cigar bar room" license endorsement for existing alcohol licensees that also hold gambling licenses (e.g., casinos or gaming venues). It allows premium cigar smoking only in a designated, enclosed area with strict requirements: cigars must meet specific handmade criteria (no filters, 100% tobacco), the venue must generate at least 10% of annual revenue from cigar sales, and no other tobacco/vaping products may be smoked or sold there. The designated area must have proper ventilation, be separate from nonsmoking zones, and exclude minors under 21. The bill also exempts these cigar rooms from standard clean indoor air laws and requires a 2026 study on Montana’s gaming industry.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new license category requiring 10% revenue from cigars, generating additional tax income for state budget through licensing fees and sales tax.85% confidence

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signed · Montana · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 499: Extend the grow your own grant program

HB 499 extends Montana's Grow Your Own Grant Program through 2029 (previously ending in 2027) and expands eligibility to include postsecondary institutions like universities and tribal colleges. The bill allows these institutions to receive grants to develop teacher training pathways, removes a requirement to convert student grants into loans if recipients don't teach in shortage areas, and revises credit requirements for high school students. It directly affects rural and reservation school districts facing teacher shortages, postsecondary institutions developing education programs, and students pursuing teaching careers through the program. The legislation includes a $500,000 appropriation for the 2025-2027 biennium to support these expanded grant opportunities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends state grant program funding for teacher training, directly increasing appropriations for education under subject 'Appropriations'.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends grant program through 2029, expands eligibility to universities/tribal colleges for teacher training, removes loan conversion requirement, and revises credit requirements - directly advancing education funding and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 27, 2025

LC 496: Generally revise behavioral health laws to create a secure forensic facility

This bill creates a 70-bed secure forensic facility in Montana to provide care for individuals with specific court findings (such as guilty but mentally ill or needing competency evaluations). The facility must offer psychiatric treatment, competency restoration, and security, located east of Big Timber, and will be funded through a $60 million appropriation from the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Fund. It amends existing law to allow this fund to cover construction costs for new behavioral health infrastructure, including the facility. The bill directly affects the state's behavioral health system and individuals requiring forensic mental health services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $60M from Behavioral Health Fund for facility construction, advancing state budget allocation for public services via appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates forensic facility for mental health treatment and competency restoration, advancing rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates 70-bed forensic facility for psychiatric treatment and competency restoration, funded by $60M from behavioral health fund, directly advancing mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 851: Create department of health services

HB 851 proposes to create a new state agency called the Department of Health Services. This new department would take over specific human services functions currently managed by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. These transferred responsibilities include the administration of developmental disabilities services, mental health services (like the Montana State Hospital), chemical dependency services, and veterans' long-term care facilities. The bill also provides an appropriation for the new department, grants it rulemaking authority, and requires its contracts to include dispute resolution clauses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new department via appropriation, funding transferred health services functions (e.g., mental health, veterans care) as part of state budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new department to manage mental health, developmental disabilities, and chemical dependency services with funding, advancing healthcare delivery95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly transfers veterans' long-term care facilities to new department and includes funding appropriation for these services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 2686: Generally revise gambling laws

This bill revises Montana's gambling laws by expanding the definition of "internet gambling" to explicitly include online casinos, while creating an exception for online casinos that do not use traditional currency (allowing cryptocurrency transactions). It changes how fines from gambling violations are handled, directing them to the Department of Justice's budget instead of previous allocations, and updates criminal penalties to specify both misdemeanor and felony offenses. The bill directly affects online casino operators (particularly those using cryptocurrency), the Department of Justice (managing fines), and gambling enforcement agencies (applying new penalties). These changes aim to modernize regulatory definitions and enforcement mechanisms within Montana's gambling framework.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects gambling violation fines to DOJ budget, increasing funding allocation for state law enforcement without tax changes.92% confidence

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 324: Revise vehicle registration fees and allocate revenue for bridges and victims of crime

SB 324 revises vehicle registration fees for high-end vehicles, adding a 1% fee based on the vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the first year of registration after January 1, 2026, for cars over $150,000 and motorhomes over $300,000. It directly affects owners of these high-value vehicles, replacing a flat annual add-on fee with the percentage-based assessment. Revenue from these fees will fund two specific programs: grants for bridge projects through the Department of Transportation and services for crime victims via the Board of Crime Control. The bill also updates related sections of Montana law governing registration fees and special revenue accounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesNew 1% tax on luxury vehicles funds bridges/victims' programs, advancing public service funding without burdening middle/lower income.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates revenue to fund victims of crime programs, directly supporting criminal justice services per bill's summary.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill directs new vehicle registration revenue specifically to fund bridge projects through Department of Transportation, explicitly aligning with highway infrastructure funding under Transportation subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges Vehicle Registration

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 950: Establishing a Montana trade office in Israel

House Bill 950 sought to establish and maintain a Montana trade office in Israel, staffed by the Department of Commerce. The office's primary goal was to promote trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Montana and Israel. It aimed to strengthen ties and expand opportunities in areas such as agriculture, technology, security, and educational programs. The bill proposed appropriating $500,000 from the general fund for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, to fund the office. This act was intended to be effective July 1, 2025, and terminate on June 30, 2033.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $500,000 from general fund for trade office, directly allocating state budget resources to fund a new program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 618: Provide for a Montana individual freedom act

House Bill 618, the "Montana Individual Freedom Act," aimed to restrict how state and local government agencies, including the Department of Military Affairs, could use public funds. The bill would have prohibited these agencies from spending money on memberships, goods, or services from organizations that discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. It also sought to prevent the expenditure of funds on programs related to "diversity, equity, and inclusion" or on political or social activism. The Attorney General would have been granted authority to investigate alleged violations and adopt rules for enforcement.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts state budget allocation by defunding DEI programs and prohibiting spending on organizations with certain policies, directly limiting government expenditure.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits discrimination based on national origin, a key immigration-related protected class, indirectly supporting immigrant rights.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending

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