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 in subsequent years. The bill also modifies the distribution of collected fees, ensuring that the first $2 million each year is allocated to a newly created account, while the remainder supports highway patrol expenses and motor vehicle division administration.

Additionally, the bill establishes a "victims of crime state special revenue account" to fund services for crime victims and a "better local bridge fund account" to provide grants to local governments for bridge projects, requiring a local matching fund of at least 20%. It mandates a transfer of $50 million from the general fund to the bridge fund account by June 30, 2025. The bill also includes adjustments to fiscal year-end balance deposits into the general fund and outlines annual inflation adjustments for vehicle MSRPs. Certain provisions will take effect immediately upon passage, while others will be effective in 2026 or 2027, and the bill repeals Section 61-3-111 of the MCA.

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: 44-1-504, 61-3-112, 61-3-321