House Bill 483 seeks to amend school funding laws in Montana, particularly addressing the effects of property reappraisal on school funding and property taxes. The bill mandates collaboration between the Office of Public Instruction and the Department of Revenue to assess these impacts. It establishes fixed amounts for state and county school equalization mills and vocational-technical education mills, clarifies that school levies are exempt from certain regulations, and revises property tax relief mechanisms. Additionally, the bill proposes an increase in guaranteed tax base multipliers for fiscal year 2026 and aims to lower property taxes by enhancing reimbursement rates for school transportation.

The legislation also introduces new definitions and modifies existing funding mechanisms, including the establishment of a school major maintenance aid account and a technology acquisition fund to support school facility projects and technological needs. It adjusts reimbursement rates for school transportation based on bus capacity and revises the calculation methods for guaranteed tax base aid to ensure proper allocation of funds. The bill is designed to enhance financial support for school districts while maintaining accountability and responsiveness to changes in property valuation and educational funding needs, with an effective date for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_1(1): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_1(2): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_1(3): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_1(4): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_1(5): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_1: 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(1): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(10): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(11): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(12): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(13): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(14): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(2): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(3): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(4): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(5): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(6): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(7): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(8): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2(9): 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_2: 15-7-111, 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(1): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(2): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(3): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(4): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(5): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(6): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(7): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(8): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X(9): 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403
HB0483_X: 15-10-420, 20-9-306, 20-9-331, 20-9-333, 20-9-336, 20-9-360, 20-9-366, 20-9-367, 20-9-368, 20-9-404, 20-9-525, 20-9-533, 20-10-141, 20-10-144, 20-10-145, 20-10-146, 20-25-439, 90-6-403