Budget & Taxes

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 2391: Sawmill revitalization act

This bill creates a $6 million Sawmill Revitalization Special Revenue Account, funded by a transfer from the Big Sky Economic Development Fund. The Board of Investments will provide low-interest loans (max 3%) to businesses seeking to reopen closed sawmills, prioritizing those closed within the 12 months before January 1, 2025, followed by those closed 12-36 months prior. The funds are available for fiscal year 2026, with unspent money reverting to the Big Sky Fund. The program expires December 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $6M from Big Sky Fund for sawmill revitalization loans, advancing economic development via budget appropriation85% confidence

Track

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 25, 2025

LC 706: Revise fantasy sports laws

This bill (LC 706) establishes a regulatory framework for online fantasy sports contests in Montana. It requires operators to obtain a license from the Department of Justice, pay fees, and report financial data, while defining "fantasy sports contests" as skill-based games (not luck-based) where prizes are determined by player knowledge of athlete statistics. The law creates a tax on "internet fantasy sports contest adjusted revenues" and grants the Department of Justice authority to regulate operators, investigate violations, and impose penalties. It directly affects fantasy sports service providers seeking to operate legally in Montana and players aged 18+ participating in these contests.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new tax on fantasy sports revenue, generating state budget income through regulatory fees and taxation of contest revenues.90% confidence

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2774: A bill increasing medicaid reimbursement rates

LC 2774 was a draft bill proposing to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for healthcare providers. It was assigned to a drafter in December 2024 but died in the legislative process without further action, as noted in its "Draft Died in Process" status on May 27, 2025. The bill did not advance to committee or floor votes, so no policy changes were implemented. It would have directly affected Medicaid-participating healthcare providers by potentially increasing their payments. Since the bill never became law, no concrete policy changes were enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates, directly increasing state government spending on health care services, aligning with funding essential programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly proposes increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, directly increasing funding for healthcare providers and strengthening Medicaid program stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Telehealth

Track

vetoed · Montana · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 182: Provide grant funding for senior citizen centers

HB 182 creates a $5 million state grant program to fund capital projects, maintenance, repairs, and equipment for nonprofit senior citizen centers in Montana. The program directly affects nonprofit organizations serving residents aged 60+ who operate centers providing meals, education, or recreation (excluding housing facilities). Grants require a 1:1 matching contribution for projects over $25,000, with a maximum $250,000 per project and $350,000 total per county (capping two projects per county). Funding is appropriated from the general fund starting July 2025 and will expire June 30, 2031.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M state grant for senior centers, directly increasing public service funding under appropriations and State Finance subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 494: Revise tobacco settlement allocations

HB 494 proposes to revise how Montana allocates its yearly tobacco settlement proceeds, effective July 1, 2025. This bill would change the distribution percentages between two state special revenue accounts. Currently, 32% of the proceeds fund statewide tobacco disease prevention programs, and 17% goes to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). HB 494 would reverse these allocations, directing 17% to tobacco prevention and 32% to CHIP to secure federal matching funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReallocates tobacco settlement funds to increase CHIP funding via federal matching, strengthening public health program financing within state budget.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases CHIP funding from 17% to 32% to expand children's health insurance coverage, securing federal matching funds for public health program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

Track

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 560: Establish the Montana hunters and anglers community fund

HB 560 would have established a Montana Hunters' and Anglers' Community Fund, allowing donors to contribute $1 or more above the cost of wildlife conservation licenses. Funds collected would support grants for small rural communities (under 7,500 people) through the Department of Commerce, including projects like school improvements, food banks, or student programs. Grants would be limited to $2,000 (small) or $20,000 (large), with eligibility restrictions barring political activities and entities involved in lawsuits. The bill created a review board appointed by legislative leaders and the governor, and it died in committee in May 2025 without becoming law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates voluntary fund for community grants via license donations, directly funding public services (schools, food banks) through new appropriations, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.90% confidence

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 812: Generally revise unemployment laws relating to non-professional employees of educational institutions

HB 812 aimed to revise state unemployment laws specifically concerning nonprofessional employees of educational institutions. Currently, employees in educational settings are generally denied unemployment benefits between academic terms if they have a reasonable assurance of returning to work. This bill proposed to allow nonprofessional employees of educational institutions to claim unemployment benefits during these interim periods, in alignment with federal law. The change would have enabled these specific workers to receive unemployment compensation during breaks when they might otherwise be ineligible.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands unemployment benefits eligibility, increasing state spending on social safety net program without tax changes95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment benefits for nonprofessional education employees during academic breaks, aligning with federal law and increasing access to worker benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 370: Provide appropriation to the highway patrol pension fund

HB 370 proposed to appropriate $65 million from the state's general fund. This funding was designated as a one-time supplemental contribution to the Montana Highway Patrol Officers' Retirement System pension fund. The bill aimed to address a reported unfunded liability within the pension system. If enacted, it would have directly affected the financial stability of the pension fund for current and retired Montana Highway Patrol officers and their beneficiaries, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $65M from general fund to address pension unfunded liability, directly funding essential public safety program and promoting fiscal stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions

Track

vetoed · Montana · House Jun 19, 2025

HB 456: Provide best beginnings scholarships to child care workers

This bill expands Montana's Best Beginnings scholarship program to provide direct financial aid to child-care workers employed at licensed day-care centers or registered family/group day-care homes. It removes standard income eligibility requirements for these workers (previously only applied to families) and allocates $5.5 million annually from the general fund starting July 2025 to fund these scholarships. The program now specifically supports child-care workers through this new funding stream, separate from the existing family-focused scholarship component.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5.5M annually from general fund to fund child-care worker scholarships, increasing state spending on public workforce support program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds scholarships for child-care workers (early education workforce), expanding access to educational support and strengthening the sector through dedicated $5.5M annual appropriation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 457: Revise best beginnings eligibility

HB 457 aimed to modify the Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program. It proposed changing the family income eligibility requirement from a minimum of 185% of the federal poverty level to 85% of the state median income for each family size. Additionally, the bill sought to appropriate $17 million annually from the general fund to the Department of Public Health and Human Services for the program for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $17M annually from general fund to expand child care program, directly funding a public service per appropriations subject.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands early childhood education access by lowering income eligibility threshold and appropriating $17M annually for child care scholarships, directly increasing funding and accessibility for families.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

Track