Senate Bill No. introduced by G. Hertz seeks to revise the laws governing mill levy elections by imposing a maximum duration of 10 years for mill levies submitted to voters without requiring reapproval. The bill outlines exceptions for specific levies related to schools, community colleges, law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services. It mandates that existing voted mill levies will automatically terminate unless extended prior to their termination date, with specific termination dates provided. The bill amends sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically sections 7-15-4286 and 15-10-425, while deleting references to section 20-9-502. Additionally, it establishes that all approved mill levies will end on December 31, 10 years post-approval unless voters reapprove them, allowing governing bodies to submit for reapproval starting three years before the termination date.

The bill also proposes amendments concerning levies for transition costs and the creation of a subfund in the building reserve fund dedicated to school safety and security. It removes the previous six-year limitation on the duration of transition cost levies and the specific conditions for their calculation and submission to voters, as well as the stipulation that such levies cannot be classified as outstanding indebtedness for certain calculations. New sections are introduced to set an effective date of January 1, 2026, clarifying that the new 10-year limit for mill levy elections will apply to those held on or after this date. These changes aim to enhance the funding process for school safety and security improvements while providing greater flexibility regarding the duration and conditions of transition cost levies.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_1(1): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_1(2): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_1(3): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_1(4): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_1(5): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_1(6): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_1(7): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_1: 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_2(1): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_2(2): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_2(3): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_2(4): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_2(5): 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502
SB0204_2: 7-15-4286, 15-10-425, 20-9-502