House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant changes to property tax laws in Montana, focusing on agricultural, residential, and commercial property tax rates. The bill aims to reduce the tax rates for Class Three agricultural properties from 2.16% to 2.05%, and for Class Four residential properties, it seeks to reduce the tax rate from 1.35% to 1.11% of market value. Additionally, it introduces a homestead exemption for the first $50,000 of market value for Class Four residential properties, along with reducing Class Ten forest land property tax rates. The bill also outlines eligibility and application requirements for the homestead exemption, as well as an appeal process for denied applications. Moreover, the bill includes provisions for penalties related to false or fraudulent applications, allowing for criminal prosecution and financial penalties for offenders. It amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) and establishes an immediate effective date with retroactive applicability for certain provisions. The legislation also mandates that the Department can issue warrants for distraint if penalties and interest are owed, and it requires the distribution of collected taxes proportionally to affected taxing jurisdictions. The taxable percentage for Class Ten property is adjusted from 0.29% to 0.36% of its forest productivity value for years following 2024, and property owners are granted the right to appeal decisions regarding homestead exemptions to both the county tax appeal board and the Montana tax appeal board.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-6-134
HB0155_1(1): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(10): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(11): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(12): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(13): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(14): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(2): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(3): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(4): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(5): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(6): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(7): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(8): 15-6-134
HB0155_1(9): 15-6-134
HB0155_1: 15-6-134
HB0155_2(1): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(10): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(11): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(12): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(13): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(2): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(3): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(4): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(5): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(6): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(7): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(8): 15-6-134
HB0155_2(9): 15-6-134
HB0155_2: 15-6-134
HB0155_3(1): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(10): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(11): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(12): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(2): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(3): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(4): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(5): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(6): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(7): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(8): 15-6-134
HB0155_3(9): 15-6-134
HB0155_3: 15-6-134
HB0155_4(1): 15-6-134
HB0155_4(2): 15-6-134
HB0155_4(3): 15-6-134
HB0155_4(4): 15-6-134
HB0155_4: 15-6-134