House Bill No. introduced by S. Rosenzweig establishes a Property Tax Deferral Loan Program to assist qualifying senior citizens in Montana with property taxes that exceed the amounts levied in 2022. The program targets property owners who have been residents of Montana for at least five years and maintain a certain level of equity in their property. Notably, the bill removes eligibility for active-duty military personnel, previously included in the program, and introduces new definitions and provisions regarding the loan process, repayment, and the establishment of a dedicated loan program account. The loan amount is capped at the difference between current property taxes and those from 2022, with repayment required upon the death of the property owner, sale of the property, or if false information was provided during the application.

Additionally, the bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) concerning property tax assessments and appeals. It establishes that a taxpayer's written objection to a classification or appraisal, along with the department's notification of its determination, will be public records. The appeal process is outlined for property owners who wish to contest the department's classification or appraisal, allowing for appeals to both the county tax appeal board and the Montana tax appeal board. The bill also modifies the requirements for tax notices sent by county treasurers to include detailed information about taxes due and available property tax assistance programs, specifically adding the property tax deferral loan program to this list. These new provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_1(1): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_1(2): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_1(3): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_1(4): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_1(5): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_1: 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_2(1): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_2(2): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_2(3): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_2(4): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_2(5): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_2(6): 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125
HB0836_2: 15-7-102, 15-16-101, 15-17-125