Budget & Taxes

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 19, 2025

LC 2523: Provide for a Montana individual freedom act

This bill establishes the Montana Individual Freedom Act, which prohibits state and local government agencies and the Department of Military Affairs from spending funds on organizations that discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. It also bars these agencies from using state, local, or federal money to support programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion or to engage in political or social activism. The Attorney General is given authority to investigate violations of these restrictions and may create rules to outline enforcement procedures. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all branches of state government, local municipalities, and military affairs units.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts government spending on DEI programs and prohibits agencies from using funds for social activism, limiting budget allocations for these initiatives.85% confidence

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Dec 10, 2024

LC 1626: Revise tobacco settlement allocations

This bill revises how Montana allocates tobacco settlement funds, changing the percentages distributed between two state accounts. Under the new rules, 32% of tobacco settlement proceeds will fund statewide tobacco disease prevention programs aimed at preventing children from using tobacco and helping adults quit, while 17% will be used to match federal funds for the Children's Health Insurance Program. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services will manage the prevention programs and must follow established national standards when implementing them. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and any unspent funds from these accounts must be transferred to the state trust fund within two years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reallocates tobacco settlement funds to strengthen public health programs and CHIPS matching, increasing funding for essential state services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates tobacco settlement funds to tobacco disease prevention programs and matches federal funds for Children's Health Insurance Program, directly supporting healthcare access and public health initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 13, 2025

LC 1448: Revise county clerk and recorder fee for recording documents

This bill increases recording fees charged by Montana county clerks and recorders for documents, affecting property owners, lenders, and other parties who file legal documents. It raises the standard fee to $20 for the first page and $10 for each additional page, with non-standard documents incurring an extra $10 charge. The bill also establishes a records preservation fund requiring a $2 deposit per page and allows fees to automatically adjust every two years based on inflation starting in 2027. These changes take effect on October 1, 2025, for all documents recorded on or after that date.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill increases recording fees on property documents, effectively raising costs for property owners and lenders, which opposes budget relief for taxpayers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 15, 2025

LC 3417: Revised requirements for the reporting of actual costs for legislation with projected fiscal impacts

This bill updates how Montana tracks the actual spending of laws that were expected to cost more than $500,000 from the state's general fund. It requires the Office of Budget and Program Planning to submit biannual reports to the Legislative Finance Committee every February and October, comparing actual expenditures against the original cost estimates provided in fiscal notes. The reports must cover bills that have been in effect for at least one full fiscal year and include details on how funds were spent alongside a comparison to projected costs. By repealing a previous termination date, this legislation ensures the reporting requirement continues indefinitely rather than ending on December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enhances fiscal accountability by requiring reporting of actual costs versus estimates, promoting responsible budget management and transparency in state spending.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability State Budget

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 15, 2025

LC 173: Revise property tax rates for certain property

This bill revises Montana's property tax laws to create lower tax rates for owner-occupied residential properties and long-term rentals, while also adjusting rates for certain commercial properties. It establishes specific eligibility requirements, such as requiring owners to live in a principal residence for at least seven months annually and rent out properties for at least 28 days per month over nine months of the year. The legislation includes an automatic qualification process for 2025 and 2026 for properties that previously received tax rebates, with a transition to a formal application system starting in 2027. Property owners must meet current tax payment requirements and can appeal decisions through a designated process outlined in the bill.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill lowers property tax rates for owner-occupied homes and long-term rentals, providing tax relief to homeowners and renters while adjusting commercial rates.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill lowers property taxes for owner-occupied homes and long-term rentals, making housing more affordable and protecting residential property owners.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Homeownership Property Taxes Renters

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 21, 2025

LC 4353: Require a public utility to transfer unused customer-generated kilowatt-hour credits to low-income energy assistance programs

This bill requires public utilities in Montana to transfer any unused kilowatt-hour credits from customer-generated solar or wind energy to a state fund that supports low-income energy assistance programs. Under the new rules, when a customer generates more electricity than they use, the excess is credited to their account for the next billing period, but any remaining credits at the end of a 12-month period must be given to the utility without payment to the customer. The utility then contributes these credits to a designated fund administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, which uses the resources to help low-income households with energy costs. This change affects residential and commercial customers who generate their own electricity and the public utilities that serve them.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs unused energy credits to low-income energy assistance programs, strengthening funding for essential public services and supporting fiscal management of state resources.75% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill redirects unused renewable energy credits to low-income assistance, supporting energy equity and renewable energy adoption.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar Wind

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 23, 2025

LC 17: Maintain the county distribution level of metal mines license tax

This bill extends the deadline for distributing metal mines license tax revenue to Montana counties from 2019 to 2037. It directly affects county governments by ensuring they continue to receive a portion of these tax collections for a longer period. The legislation amends three existing state laws to update the termination dates, changing them from 2019 to 2027 and then to 2037. This change allows counties to maintain their current level of funding from metal mines licensing fees for an additional 18 years. The bill does not alter the tax rate or collection process, only the timeline for distributing the collected funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill extends county funding from metal mines license tax, strengthening local government revenue and supporting county budgets.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 30, 2025

LC 1346: Revise lottery proceeds laws to dedicate to education funding

This bill directs Montana lottery revenue to be distributed quarterly to school districts based on the number of quality educators each district employs, ensuring funds go directly to schools rather than being held in a general state account. It expands how school flexibility funds can be used, allowing districts to spend money on teacher recruitment and retention incentives, facility improvements, technology upgrades, and curriculum development. The legislation also updates the state lottery commission's duties to prioritize maximizing net revenue for school distribution while maintaining oversight of lottery operations and reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs lottery revenue to education funding, increasing school resources and expanding flexibility for teacher recruitment, facilities, and curriculum development.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill directs lottery revenue to school districts, expands flexibility funds for teachers and facilities, and supports educator recruitment and retention.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds technology upgrades for schools, indicating support for educational technology infrastructure and digital resources.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 4, 2025

LC 4303: Provide a tax credit for charitable gifts to public infrastructure

This bill creates a tax credit for taxpayers in Montana who donate money to certified public infrastructure projects, allowing them to reduce their state tax liability by 50% of the gift's present value, up to a maximum of $500,000. The credit applies to donations made to state or local government projects that build or acquire facilities serving the public, such as health clinics, libraries, museums, and senior centers, which must be officially certified by the state department. To claim the credit, taxpayers must obtain a receipt from the government confirming the donation and the project's eligibility, and any unused portion of the credit can be carried forward for three years. The bill also adds this new tax credit to a list of other credits that the state's revenue interim committee must review every eight years to assess their effectiveness and impact.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credit for public infrastructure donations, increasing funding for public services like health clinics and libraries while providing tax relief to donors.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 25, 2025

LC 1984: Generally revise laws related to sexual assault kits

This bill revises Montana laws regarding payment for sexual assault medical forensic examinations by establishing a dedicated state fund to cover costs when local law enforcement agencies cannot pay. The new sexual assault medical forensic examination fund will reimburse medical providers up to $800 per examination for victims of alleged sexual offenses, with excess marijuana tax revenue funding the account. Additionally, the bill modifies how surplus marijuana tax funds are distributed, directing a portion to the new examination fund and clarifying the restorative justice fund's sources and uses. These changes shift financial responsibility from local law enforcement to the state for certain forensic examinations while maintaining oversight through the Department of Justice.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes dedicated state fund using marijuana tax revenue to reimburse medical providers for sexual assault examinations, advancing state budget management and funding essential public services.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes funding for sexual assault forensic exams, improving access to justice and victim support services within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes dedicated state fund to cover costs of sexual assault medical forensic examinations, increasing access to healthcare services for victims.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy Violent Crime

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