US EditionThree Republican State Legislators Sue the State of Montana over Major Property Tax Reform
Three Montana Republicans challenge Senate Bill 542 for altering original bill purpose and combining multiple subjects, citing a 50% tax increase on some properties as unconstitutional.
- On Wednesday, Sen. Greg Hertz, Sen. Tom McGillvray and former Sen. Keith Regier filed a lawsuit in Gallatin County District Court seeking to invalidate Senate Bill 542 and named the Montana Department of Revenue in the complaint.
- Originally SB 542 froze valuations before being rewritten into homestead tax rates and one-time rebates after lawmakers cloned provisions from stalled HB 231.
- Plaintiffs argue the legislation breached constitutional rules by claiming the bill was 'so altered' it changed its purpose and paired appropriations with permanent rate restructuring, calling it 'vote buying'.
- If struck down, SB 542 could revert Montana to the 2024 tax code, undoing relief that benefited 80% of Montana homeowners, the governor's office said.
- Sen. Greg Hertz says he solicited donations through Montana Policy Action, with estimated litigation costs of $25,000 to $50,000, while plaintiffs cite high-value properties and tax hikes.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Lawsuit challenges Montana's second-home tax
Legal challenge by prominent Republicans asks court to find that a bill that lowered taxes for an estimated 4 in 5 homeowners and offered $400 property tax rebates is unconstitutional.
Lawsuit challenges second-home tax
Three prominent Republicans filed a lawsuit Wednesday asking a judge to invalidate one of the two bipartisan bills that reduced 2025 property taxes for many Montana homeowners. They argue the legislative sausage-making that brought the bill to the desk of Gov. Greg Gianforte last year violated procedural requirements in the state Constitution. The three plaintiffs are Senate Taxation Committee Chair Greg Hertz, R-Polson, Senate Majority Leader …
Wyoming Board of Equalization readies lawsuit challenging residential property tax cap
The State Board of Equalization will challenge a tax cap on residential property in court, arguing the Wyoming state law enacted two years ago is unconstitutional. The lawsuit is set to be filed Thursday, board Vice-Chairman Marty Hardsocg confirmed to WyoFile. Hardsocg declined to provide other details about the complaint. As part of a slate of 2024 tax bills aimed at lowering the burden for homeowners, the Wyoming Legislature created a tax e…
The Billings Gazette
Helena Independent RecordThree Republican state legislators sue the state of Montana over major property tax reform
The lawsuit puts on display the intra-Republican divisions that were exacerbated by the white-hot property tax debate during the 2025 legislative session.
Lawmakers sue over property tax reform bill, claiming process violated Montana Constitution
Three current and former Republican lawmakers have filed a lawsuit against the major property tax reform passed by the Montana Legislature last year, arguing that the way it was put together and passed violated the states constitution.If we don't stop this and give the Legislature some guidance from the courts, we might as well get rid of that section of the constitution, Sen. Greg Hertz, R-Polson, told MTN.On Wednesday morning, Hertz, Senate Ma…
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