Senate Bill No. introduced by J. Trebas aims to revise the appraisal process for centrally assessed property in Montana. The bill amends Section 15-23-102 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to establish a procedure for situations where the Department of Revenue and the property owner cannot agree on hiring a particular independent appraiser. If an agreement cannot be reached, the Department is required to select a qualified independent appraiser and cover the costs of the appraisal. The Department will then consider the appraisal results, with the option to accept or modify them. If modifications are made, the property owner must receive a copy of the original appraisal prior to any changes.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for a delayed effective date, with the act set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and it will apply to property tax years beginning after December 31, 2025. This legislative change aims to streamline the appraisal process and ensure transparency and fairness in property assessments.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-23-102
SB0397_1(1): 15-23-102
SB0397_1(2): 15-23-102
SB0397_1(3): 15-23-102
SB0397_1(4): 15-23-102
SB0397_1: 15-23-102