House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to amend Montana's tax lien and tax deed laws, particularly focusing on the redemption process and the issuance of tax deeds. A significant change is the extension of the redemption period for property tax liens to five years after attachment, along with enhanced notification requirements for interested parties regarding tax liens. The bill also establishes that a tax deed cannot be issued unless the total delinquency surpasses either 2% of the property's fair market value or $5,000. Additionally, it mandates real-time online bidding for tax deed auctions and outlines the distribution of surplus funds as unclaimed property.

The legislation further revises the notification process for tax deed auctions, requiring that notices be sent via certified or registered mail at least 60 days prior to the auction, again at least 30 days before the sale, and another 30 days before the issuance of a tax deed. It expands the list of parties that must be notified, including property owners and lienholders, and mandates a diligent search for property owners if any notice is returned undeliverable. The bill also details the procedures for conducting tax deed auctions, including how opening bids are calculated and the distribution of auction proceeds, ensuring that any unclaimed surplus funds are classified as unclaimed property and forwarded to the appropriate department.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-16-101, 15-17-121, 15-17-122, 15-18-111, 15-18-211, 15-18-214, 15-18-219, 15-18-220, 15-18-221
HB0420_1(1): 15-16-101, 15-17-121, 15-17-122, 15-18-111, 15-18-211, 15-18-214, 15-18-219, 15-18-220, 15-18-221
HB0420_1(2): 15-16-101, 15-17-121, 15-17-122, 15-18-111, 15-18-211, 15-18-214, 15-18-219, 15-18-220, 15-18-221
HB0420_1(3): 15-16-101, 15-17-121, 15-17-122, 15-18-111, 15-18-211, 15-18-214, 15-18-219, 15-18-220, 15-18-221
HB0420_1(4): 15-16-101, 15-17-121, 15-17-122, 15-18-111, 15-18-211, 15-18-214, 15-18-219, 15-18-220, 15-18-221
HB0420_1: 15-16-101, 15-17-121, 15-17-122, 15-18-111, 15-18-211, 15-18-214, 15-18-219, 15-18-220, 15-18-221