This bill allocates $210,000 from the general license account to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to hire two full-time bear technicians for Region 3, which covers southwest Montana. The funding is intended to help the agency manage conflicts between expanding grizzly bear populations and increasing human development in the area. The money will supplement existing base funding and is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2025, with the legislature planning for the 2027 appropriation to become part of future base funding.
This bill expands access to low-cost financing for nonprofit organizations and public-benefit projects in Montana, including hospitals, schools, renewable energy facilities, and family service providers. It increases the Montana Facility Finance Authority's bond issuance limit to $1.5 billion and adds a biennial inflation adjustment to that cap to maintain funding capacity over time. The legislation also updates legal definitions to clarify which types of facilities and entities qualify for these financing options, ensuring broader eligibility for community and economic development projects.
This bill updates Montana education laws to improve teacher recruitment and retention while expanding support for the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. It makes educational sign language interpreters eligible for quality educator payments and loan assistance, and broadens the types of schools that can receive incentives for meeting teacher pay benchmarks and participate in the teacher residency program. The bill also allows the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind to transport resident students between home and school using school buses. Additionally, it defines "impacted schools" to include special education cooperatives, the school for the deaf and blind, correctional facilities, reservation schools, and rural schools located more than 20 minutes from larger cities.
This bill creates a new state special revenue account called the Inflation Protection Act account to invest state funds in precious metals and digital assets. The Montana Board of Investments will manage these investments, with all earnings required to stay within the account. By July 15, 2025, the state treasurer must transfer $50 million from the general fund to establish the account, which becomes operational on July 1, 2025.
This bill exempts agricultural property from open space property tax levies in Montana, directly affecting landowners who classify their property for agricultural use. The key provision amends state law to remove agricultural land from the list of properties subject to these levies, which fund various county services like parks, roads, and fire control. If a county had already collected payments from exempt agricultural property, the bill allows counties to reduce those payments to refund the overcharged amount. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and applies retroactively to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.
This bill prevents the Montana Department of Revenue from refusing to approve a transfer of an alcohol license solely because the current owner owes outstanding taxes, penalties, or interest to the state. Instead, any money received from the sale of the license can be used to pay off those existing debts, ensuring the transfer process is not blocked by financial obligations. The changes apply to both the sale of the business and the transfer of inventory under specific conditions, allowing licenses to change hands even when the seller has unpaid debts. This update aims to clarify the relationship between license transfers and tax liabilities while maintaining the department's authority to collect owed funds through the sale proceeds.
This bill modifies Montana's tax withholding laws to protect volunteer officers of small nonprofit organizations from personal liability for unpaid taxes and missed filings. The exemption applies only to officers and directors who do not receive monetary compensation and only covers a 12-month period of non-compliance. Small nonprofits are defined as those that employ 10 or fewer paid employees at any time during the calendar year. If a small nonprofit fails to withhold taxes or file required statements for more than 12 months, or if an officer receives wages, they lose this protection and become individually responsible for the unpaid amounts. The legislation amends existing state code to clarify these conditions and limit liability for unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest.
This bill is a joint resolution from the Montana Legislature that formally requests Congress to call a constitutional convention of the states. The resolution asks for a convention specifically to propose an amendment requiring the federal government to balance its budget each year, except during national emergencies. Montana is applying under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which allows states to petition for a convention when two-thirds of state legislatures agree on the same subject. The bill directs the state Secretary of State to send copies of this application to federal officials and other state legislatures to help reach the two-thirds threshold needed to trigger the convention process.
This Montana bill establishes a new state fund and allocates $220 million to expand correctional capacity by building or renovating a new prison facility. The legislation creates the Future of Corrections Fund to manage money for securing additional facilities through construction or lease-to-own agreements, while also allowing $30 million for planning, technology upgrades, and system assessments. A key provision requires the Budget Director to evaluate whether a proposed facility location has sufficient workforce for inmate rehabilitation before construction proceeds, with funds potentially reverting to the general fund if construction is deemed not in the state's best interests. The bill also mandates quarterly reporting to legislative committees on all expenditures related to the project and includes a contingency plan to redirect funds if the new facility is not built.
This bill modifies Montana laws governing voter-approved property tax levies by establishing time limits on their duration and requiring periodic voter reapproval. It directly affects local governments, school districts, and taxing entities that have previously approved property tax increases through elections. The key provision limits most new or extended mill levies to a maximum of 10 years without requiring voters to reapprove them before the expiration date. Additionally, the bill clarifies how tax increment calculations work for targeted economic development districts and urban renewal areas, specifying which mill rates should be excluded from those calculations based on when the districts were created.
