This bill creates a state-funded property tax credit program for homeowners who designate their homes as primary residences. It redirects existing state lodging and rental car tax revenues into a special account, which is then distributed to counties to provide credits directly on property tax bills for certified primary residences. Homeowners must apply for certification by March 1 each year, and the Department of Revenue will verify eligibility while counties administer the credit payments. The program allows recipients to keep any excess credit if it exceeds their property tax bill, and it includes provisions for appeals and penalties for fraudulent applications.
This bill creates a new housing fairness income tax credit for Montana residents who pay property taxes on their homes or rent-equivalent amounts on their rentals. It directly affects homeowners and renters with household incomes under $150,000 who have lived in Montana for at least nine months and occupied their residence for at least six months of the tax year. The credit amount is calculated based on household income, with higher credits available for lower-income households, and it cannot be combined with the existing residential property tax credit for the elderly. The legislation also clarifies that taxpayers cannot claim this credit if they receive public rent subsidies or property tax subsidies, and it amends several existing Montana code sections to incorporate these new provisions.
This bill authorizes the Montana Board of Investments to allocate an additional $50 million from the permanent coal tax trust fund for low-income and moderate-income housing loans, increasing the total available funding to $115 million. The legislation allows the Montana Board of Housing to administer these funds for developing and preserving homes and apartments to help eligible residents meet basic housing needs. It also updates related state statutes to clarify how these funds are managed and repaid into the coal severance tax permanent fund. The bill directly affects housing developers, nonprofit organizations, and low-to-moderate income households seeking affordable housing assistance through state loan programs.
This bill allows Montana to keep any interest or income earned on $12 million in workforce housing funds instead of returning it to the general fund. The money is designated for building or buying housing for state employees who work at facilities housing inmates or behavioral health patients in smaller counties. Key provisions include using funds to lower construction costs, provide matching loans, discount housing prices for eligible workers, or purchase housing that will be privately owned within ten years. The change applies retroactively to interest earned since June 14, 2023, and takes effect immediately upon passage.
This bill directs the Montana Housing Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund to keep all interest and income it earns rather than distributing them elsewhere. It also requires that the fund's principal can only be used if approved by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers. The legislation authorizes the state treasurer to transfer $50 million from the general fund to the account in 2025 and another $50 million in 2026. Additionally, the law applies retroactively to interest and income earned since June 2023.
This bill directs the state treasurer to transfer $50 million from Montana's general fund to the Housing Montana Fund, which is designed to support affordable housing initiatives. The legislation requires the Department of Commerce to review and update existing administrative rules related to housing programs before the next legislative session begins. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and directly impact the state's housing funding structure and regulatory framework.
HB 346 exempts various grant and loan programs from environmental review requirements under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). This bill directly affects the Department of Commerce, Board of Housing, and other commissions by removing the need for environmental assessments when authorizing or administering these specific programs. The exemptions apply to programs supporting microbusiness development, historic preservation, workforce training, housing finance, and other economic development initiatives. This aims to streamline the process for providing financial assistance through these identified programs.
This bill amends Montana law to clarify that nonprofit organizations can develop and manage "attainable workforce housing" on state trust lands through commercial leases. It updates the definition of "commercial purpose" to explicitly include nonprofit residential development for working-class housing, such as single-family or multifamily projects under a master lease. The change allows nonprofits to lease state lands for this specific housing purpose, while excluding agriculture, grazing, oil/gas development, and individual home sites. This is a technical clarification of existing leasing rules, not a new housing program, directly affecting nonprofits seeking to build affordable housing on state lands.
Montana bill LC 3757 revises rules for the Housing Montana Fund, a special fund supporting low- and moderate-income housing. The bill requires 20% of fund disbursements to go to rural areas based on population and clarifies that money can only fund housing development - not other board expenses. It specifies that loans/grants must help with housing preservation, bridge financing, land acquisition, or technical assistance for eligible applicants like local governments and nonprofits. Repaid loans and interest income must return to the fund, which will now also accept external contributions for housing projects.
This bill (LC 3752) aimed to revise state policies governing subsidies and incentives for affordable housing development. It would have directly affected developers, housing agencies, and low-to-moderate income residents seeking subsidized housing. However, the bill died in the drafting process on May 23, 2025, without advancing to committee review or a vote. No specific policy changes were enacted, as the bill never progressed beyond the initial drafting stage. The legislative record shows no further action or details about its proposed mechanisms.
