House Bill No. introduced by J. Gillette aims to provide property tax assistance for primary residences funded through lodging tax revenue. The bill includes amendments to Sections 15-65-121 and 90-1-122 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Notably, it introduces a new provision that allows excess revenue designated for the department of commerce to be transferred to a state property tax assistance account, with specific calculations for the maximum allowable revenue based on inflation and prior year collections. Additionally, the bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund to the department of revenue for the implementation of these provisions.

The bill also modifies the allocation of lodging tax proceeds, specifying that 63% of the proceeds will be used directly by the department of commerce, subject to certain conditions. It maintains existing allocations for tourism-related initiatives while ensuring that unspent funds can be redistributed for various tourism programs. The effective dates for the provisions vary, with most taking effect on July 1, 2025, while specific sections will be effective on July 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-65-121, 90-1-122
HB0887_1(1): 15-65-121, 90-1-122
HB0887_1(2): 15-65-121, 90-1-122
HB0887_1: 15-65-121, 90-1-122