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MontanaHB 1769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise terms for forest lands taxation advisory committee

Sponsored By: Mark Thane (Democrat)

Became Law

Forests and ForestryTaxation--PropertyTaxation (Generally)Taxation--Property

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New formula to tax forest land

Montana now uses zones and a formal model to value private forest land for property taxes. Per-acre value is V = I / R, where I is average annual wood income plus any farm income, minus yearly management costs. The Department uses the most recent 10 years of data, dropping the highest and lowest stumpage years, and divides the state into zones by timber type, growth, access, and markets. R equals the average capitalization rate plus the effective tax rate, but never less than 8%; the effective tax rate is total estimated tax divided by total forest value. If Forest Service sales are used, purchaser road credits are counted; your bill can rise or fall based on your zone and costs.

New forest tax advisory panel rules

The law sets a nine-member forest lands tax advisory committee. Legislative leaders appoint four members; the Governor appoints five (two industrial owners, two nonindustrial owners, and one county commissioner). Members are named by July 1 two years before each reappraisal cycle; terms generally run four years and end June 30 of the first year of each cycle. The committee meets in Montana at least once a year, reviews valuation data and methods, and recommends base periods and adjustments. It reports to the Revenue Interim Committee every two years.

Law takes effect immediately

This law takes effect on passage and approval. Its rules apply statewide starting that date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark Thane

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

  • Dave Fern

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 295 • No: 4

House vote • 2/13/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 49 • No: 1

House vote • 2/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 3

House vote • 1/13/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 1/10/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    2/27/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    2/27/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    2/20/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    2/20/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    2/19/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    2/17/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    2/13/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Concurred

    2/13/2025Senate

  9. 2nd Reading Concurred

    2/12/2025Senate

  10. Committee Report--Bill Concurred

    1/24/2025Senate

  11. Committee Executive Action--Bill Concurred

    1/23/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    1/16/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Committee

    1/15/2025Senate

  14. First Reading

    1/14/2025Senate

  15. Transmitted to Senate

    1/13/2025House

  16. 3rd Reading Passed

    1/13/2025House

  17. 2nd Reading Passed

    1/10/2025House

  18. Committee Report--Bill Passed

    1/9/2025House

  19. Committee Executive Action--Bill Passed

    1/9/2025House

  20. Hearing

    1/6/2025House

  21. First Reading

    1/6/2025House

  22. Referred to Committee

    12/20/2024House

  23. Introduced

    11/22/2024House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    3/14/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/14/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    11/26/2024

    PDF

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