House Bill No. introduced by M. Thane and others aims to lower school district property taxes for transportation by increasing the on-schedule reimbursement rates for school transportation. The bill amends Section 20-10-141 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to adjust the reimbursement rates for various school bus capacities. Specifically, the reimbursement rates for bus mileage are increased significantly, with rates for buses of different capacities rising from 50 cents to $2.99 per mile, depending on the bus size. Additionally, nonbus mileage reimbursement is also raised from 50 cents to 85 cents per mile.

The bill establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025, and specifies that the new reimbursement rates will apply to school fiscal years beginning on or after this date. This legislative change is intended to provide greater financial support to school districts for transportation, thereby potentially reducing the burden of property taxes associated with these costs.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-10-141
HB0405_1(1): 20-10-141
HB0405_1(2): 20-10-141
HB0405_1(3): 20-10-141
HB0405_1(4): 20-10-141
HB0405_1: 20-10-141