House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to provide funding for regional rail authorities in Montana by redistributing a portion of the Railroad Car Tax. The bill proposes the establishment of a "Big Sky Rail Account" within the state special revenue fund, which will receive funds from the first $2 million of taxes collected annually under the specified tax code. The Department of Transportation is tasked with distributing these funds to regional rail authorities, which must utilize the money for specific purposes, including administration, matching grants, and the development of rail projects and services.

Additionally, the bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, including the powers of regional rail authorities and the statutory appropriation process. Notably, it removes references to the Rental Car Sales and Use Tax and replaces them with the Railroad Car Tax. The bill also establishes a termination date of June 30, 2031, for the provisions outlined within it, with an effective date set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-65-121, 15-68-820, 17-7-502, 22-3-1303, 22-3-1304, 22-3-1307
HB0848_1(1): 15-65-121, 15-68-820, 17-7-502, 22-3-1303, 22-3-1304, 22-3-1307
HB0848_1(2): 15-65-121, 15-68-820, 17-7-502, 22-3-1303, 22-3-1304, 22-3-1307
HB0848_1(3): 15-65-121, 15-68-820, 17-7-502, 22-3-1303, 22-3-1304, 22-3-1307
HB0848_1(4): 15-65-121, 15-68-820, 17-7-502, 22-3-1303, 22-3-1304, 22-3-1307
HB0848_1(5): 15-65-121, 15-68-820, 17-7-502, 22-3-1303, 22-3-1304, 22-3-1307
HB0848_1(6): 15-65-121, 15-68-820, 17-7-502, 22-3-1303, 22-3-1304, 22-3-1307
HB0848_1: 15-65-121, 15-68-820, 17-7-502, 22-3-1303, 22-3-1304, 22-3-1307
HB0848_2(1): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(10): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(11): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(12): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(13): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(14): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(15): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(16): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(2): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(3): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(4): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(5): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(6): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(7): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(8): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2(9): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_2: 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(1): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(2): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(3): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(4): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(5): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(6): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(7): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(8): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3(9): 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502
HB0848_3: 7-14-1624, 15-23-215, 17-7-502