US EditionAs Montana property tax relief bills near finish line, possible legal challenges loom
- As the 2025 Montana legislative session nears its conclusion, lawmakers have combined two key bills related to property tax reform and sent them to a conference committee to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.
- These bills aim to lower property rates on primary residences, rentals, and small businesses while raising rates on non-qualifying properties amid criticisms.
- Conference committee hearings on April 29 featured business and agricultural leaders, including Todd O'Hair, testifying against the bills for added complexity and cost.
- Initial Senate votes passed SB 542 by 29-21 and HB 231 by 28-22, with Rep. Llew Jones stating the bills may not require another House vote.
- While supporters say the reform merely rebalances tax burdens due to rising residential values, opponents warn of legal risks and possible harms to struggling industries.
15 Articles
15 Articles
From the Capitol cloakroom
A bi-partisan group consisting of House Speaker Brandon Ler, Republican Majority Leader Steve Fitzpatrick and two Missoula Democrats, Mark Thane and Jonathan Karlen, hammered out a property tax relief compromise and were successful in amending it into Senate Bill 542. The bill passed the debate stage vote on an 80-20 vote. The tax reduction applies to the primary residence of Montana citizens....
Helena Independent Record
As Montana property tax relief bills near finish line, possible legal challenges loom
After months of work on how to provide property tax relief, lawmakers took some of their final votes on the bills Tuesday, but the possibility of legal challenges loomed large.
First Look: Laurel mother responds, Property tax bills endorsed, Mental health training grant
Laurel mother responds to drivers sentence after losing daughter in crashA Laurel mother is expressing her anger with the justice system after losing her daughter... Alexus "Lexy" Pyle in a fatal crash four years ago.Melissa Dunn, Lexy's mother, says the punishment given to Payton Hunter, the man convicted of being involved in the crash, is far too lenient.Hunter was convicted of one count of criminal endangerment and sentenced to a five-year co…
Montana Free Press
milescitystar.comSecond-home tax bills advance over opposition from business lobby
Vocal opposition from an array of business sector lobbyists failed to derail a pair of bills implementing Gov. Greg Gianforte’s signature property tax relief measure as they advanced Tuesday toward their final legislative votes.The governor’s proposal, now contained in House Bill 231 and Senate Bill 542, would scale back taxes on primary residences and long-term rentals. It would avoid cuts to local government services by pushing up taxes on sec…
Montana Senate endorses pair of property tax bills, now linked together
As lawmakers approach the end of the Montana Legislatures 2025 session, theyve tied together two major bills in what could be the final version of their plan for property tax reform.Senate Bill 542 and House Bill 231 each went to a conference committee on Tuesday morning, to resolve differences between the two chambers versions of the bills. SB 542 came out unchanged, but HB 231 was significantly amended essentially turning it into coordinating …
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