Senate Bill No. introduced by J. Trebas seeks to revise property tax laws in Montana by adjusting tax rates for various property classes and updating local government levy limits. The bill allows local governments to levy mills equal to the 2025 mill levy plus an inflation adjustment. Key amendments include significant reductions in taxable percentages for several property classes, such as Class Two and Class Three, which are revised from 3% and 2.16% to 1.65%, respectively. Additionally, the tax rate for Class Four residential properties is modified from 1% to 1.25%. The bill also introduces new definitions and clarifies tax treatments for specific property types, including pollution control equipment and fiber optic installations, while providing exemptions for certain categories.

Moreover, the bill amends various sections of the Montana Code Annotated to establish new classifications and tax rates for energy-related properties, including green hydrogen facilities, which will be taxed at a reduced rate of 1.65%. It emphasizes compliance with prevailing wage standards during construction for these facilities and outlines the responsibilities of property owners regarding tax abatements. The legislation also modifies the procedure for calculating mill levies, allowing for inflation adjustments based on prior property taxes. Overall, the bill aims to streamline property tax assessments, promote renewable energy development, and ensure local governments can adjust their levies in response to inflation, impacting property owners and local funding mechanisms.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_1(1): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_1(2): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_1(3): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_1(4): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_1(5): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_1(6): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_1(7): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_1: 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(1): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(10): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(11): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(12): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(2): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(3): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(4): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(5): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(6): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(7): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(8): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2(9): 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420
SB0032_2: 15-6-132, 15-6-133, 15-6-134, 15-6-135, 15-6-137, 15-6-138, 15-6-141, 15-6-145, 15-6-156, 15-6-157, 15-6-158, 15-6-159, 15-6-162, 15-6-163, 15-10-420