Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to revise property tax abatement laws in Montana, specifically targeting communication and internet property. The bill introduces exemptions from property taxation for certain wireless infrastructure, amending sections 15-6-135, 15-6-156, 15-6-219, and 15-6-243 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). It exempts fiber optic or coaxial cable and wireless infrastructure placed in service on or after the effective date of the act from taxation for five years, with a gradual phase-out of the exemption at a rate of 20% per year, leading to full taxation resuming after ten years. Property owners must reinvest tax savings into new installations within two years and cannot pass costs onto consumers to maintain the exemption.

The bill also outlines definitions and requirements for certification of air and water pollution control and carbon capture equipment, detailing conditions for terminating or recapturing tax exemptions if compliance is not met. It emphasizes the importance of record-keeping for property owners to ensure transparency and accountability. Local governing bodies are empowered to recapture previously exempted taxes within a ten-year period if exemptions were improperly claimed. Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of a dedicated webpage for communication between infrastructure owners and local authorities, facilitating project notifications and feedback. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, applying to all relevant infrastructure placed in service after this date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-6-135, 15-6-156, 15-6-219, 15-6-243
SB0534_1(1): 15-6-135, 15-6-156, 15-6-219, 15-6-243
SB0534_1(2): 15-6-135, 15-6-156, 15-6-219, 15-6-243
SB0534_1(3): 15-6-135, 15-6-156, 15-6-219, 15-6-243
SB0534_1: 15-6-135, 15-6-156, 15-6-219, 15-6-243