House Bill No. introduced by K. Seekins-Crowe seeks to revise Montana's tax lien and tax deed laws, particularly focusing on the redemption process and the issuance of tax deeds. The bill establishes that a tax deed cannot be issued until the delinquency surpasses specific equity thresholds, requiring that the total of delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and costs exceed either 2% of the parcel's fair market value or $5,000. It also mandates that interested parties receive additional notifications regarding tax liens and introduces a real-time online bidding system for tax deed auctions, enhancing transparency and communication in the process.

Furthermore, the bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to improve protections for property owners. It requires county treasurers to send written notices to interested parties when a tax lien is attached, detailing the taxes due and available assistance programs. The notification process for tax deed auctions is also revised, necessitating that assignees notify interested parties via certified or registered mail at least 60 days before a tax sale, with follow-up notifications at 30 days prior to the sale and again 30 days before the issuance of a tax deed. The bill clarifies the auction process, including opening bid criteria and the distribution of auction proceeds, ensuring that surplus funds are treated as unclaimed property if not claimed within a specified timeframe. Overall, these changes aim to provide greater safeguards for property owners while ensuring fair and transparent tax collection processes.

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: 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