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2025 Montana Legislature: Latest updates on major property tax bills

During the 2025 Montana legislative session, lawmakers are grappling with rising property taxes and considering various measures, including assessment rate adjustments, local government spending controls, and potential rebates, to provide relief to residents.
Increased home values and subsequent property tax hikes have placed a financial strain on some Montana residents, prompting the legislature to explore options for property tax relief, with the Montana Department of Revenue warning that tax bills could rise further without intervention.
House Bill 20, a proposal from the Governor's Property Tax Task Force, passed the House and is headed to the governor's desk, requiring voted levies to be expressed in dollars instead of mills to give residents a clearer picture of their cost, marking the first prominent property tax reform of the session.
Rep. Brad Barker presented House Bills 841 and 842 to the House Taxation Committee on March 26, 2025, proposing a referendum for the November 2026 election to ask voters about enacting a statewide sales tax of up to 4% to reduce property taxes, estimating it could generate $1.3 billion annually.
While supporters argue a sales tax could alleviate the property tax burden, opponents like Amanda Curtis, president of the Montana Federation of Public Employees, warn it could disproportionately impact lower-income Montanans and make education funding more volatile, setting up what she calls a "false dichotomy" between sales and property taxes.

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Montana Free Press

Center

Gianforte pitches further business equipment tax reduction

A bill implementing Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte’s push to further reduce Montana’s business equipment tax saw its initial hearing Thursday, drawing support from business and agricultural groups.The proposal, Senate Bill 322, would raise an existing $1 million exemption threshold to $3 million. That means businesses with less than $3 million worth of equipment such as tractors or industrial machinery would be entirely excused from paying taxes…

3 days ago

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KPAX

+4 Reposted by 4 other sources

Center

Montana Legislature to consider pair of bills seeking public vote on sales tax

Property tax relief has been a major goal during this years Montana legislative session, and on Wednesday, one lawmaker presented a pair of bills that would ask voters whether theyd support a statewide sales tax if it meant lower property taxes.Rep. Brad Barker, R-Luther, is sponsoring House Bills 841 and 842, which both received hearings in the House Taxation Committee on Wednesday. Neither would actually implement a sales tax on its own, but t…

5 days ago

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Seeley Swan Pathfinder

Center

Legislature makes progress on property taxes, Medicaid, child care and teacher pay in session's first half

Day 51 of the Legislative Session was Monday, March 17. We’ve got a lot of work left to do, and I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight progress towards some of the issues I know are concerning my constituents. Property tax relief is a number one priority. Three bills are moving from the house to the Senate that are good bipartisan approaches. House Bill 154 and HB 155 will give every resid...

5 days ago·Seeley Lake, United States

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Helena Independent Record

+2 Reposted by 2 other sources

Center

2025 Montana Legislature: Latest updates on major property tax bills

Lawmakers are weighing several bills that would impact Montana's property taxes. Find the latest updates on those bills here:

6 days ago·Helena, United States

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Tax Foundation

Lean Right

Montana Lawmakers Should Prioritize Transparency, Neutrality, and Competitiveness When Reforming the Property Tax

Montana’s 2025 legislative session has seen a flurry of property tax reform proposals, a response to the surge in property valuations in the state. Unfortunately, hasty decision-making can result in suboptimal policy outcomes.

6 days ago

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sunflowerstatejournal.com

Property tax cuts get new life in conference committee

A House-Senate conference committee late Tuesday gave new life to a bill eliminating the state’s 1.5-mill property tax levy that funds maintenance and renovations of some state buildings. Senate and House negotiators agreed to move on the original contents of a bill that would eliminate one mill of that tax that goes to state universities, and the half mill that goes to state hospitals, veterans homes and the schools for the deaf and blind. The …

5 days ago

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