Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes significant changes to vehicle registration fees in Montana, introducing a new assessment fee based on the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the first year of registration for certain vehicles. The bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) and establishes state special revenue accounts to allocate the collected fees. Key provisions include an additional fee of $825 for light vehicles with an MSRP over $150,000 for the first year, transitioning to a fee of 1% of the MSRP for subsequent years until the vehicle reaches 11 years old. The bill also modifies the distribution of collected fees, ensuring that the first $2 million each year is allocated to a newly established account, with the remainder divided between highway patrol expenses and the motor vehicle division administration account.

Additionally, the bill creates new special revenue accounts, such as the "victims of crime state special revenue account" and the "better local bridge fund account," which will receive funds for specific purposes, including supporting services for crime victims and funding local bridge projects. It mandates a $50 million transfer from the general fund to the better local bridge fund account by June 30, 2025, and specifies that the MSRP for certain vehicles must be adjusted annually by a 2% inflation factor starting January 1, 2027. The bill also includes provisions for rulemaking authority and repeals Section 61-3-111 of the MCA, with most provisions set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_1(1): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_1(2): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_1(3): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_1(4): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_1(5): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_1(6): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_1: 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(1): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(10): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(11): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(12): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(13): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(14): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(2): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(3): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(4): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(5): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(6): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(7): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(8): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2(9): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_2: 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_3(1): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_3(2): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_3(3): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_3(4): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_3(5): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_3(6): 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321
SB0324_3: 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321