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MontanaHB 1869th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Deposit non-levy revenue in school equalization and property tax relief account

Sponsored By: Mark Thane (Democrat)

Signed by Governor

Taxation--PropertyEducation - School FinanceTaxationTaxation--Property

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Mineral tax money boosts school relief

20.75% of the bentonite production tax goes to the School Equalization and Property Tax Reduction Account to help fund school BASE levies. 77.95% goes to the county where the bentonite was produced, and 1.30% goes to a state fund for the Montana University System. The state sends county shares twice a year, by October 1 and April 1. The state can withhold payments if a local government is more than 90 days late filing required reports or sending money it owes to the state or other taxing bodies.

School taxes and receipts fund property tax relief

The law sets the county basic school property taxes at 33 mills for elementary and 22 mills for high school. Money from these levies and listed county revenues goes into the School Equalization and Property Tax Reduction Account to support BASE programs. Counties must send any surplus each month, with a final remittance due by June 20. Money received under 17-3-221 is split: 50% to the county general fund and 50% to the school account for elementary BASE. All fines and penalties, except justice’s court fines, go to the elementary county equalization fund, and clerks report them at the close of each court term.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark Thane

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

  • Dave Fern

    Democrat • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 287 • No: 11

Senate vote • 3/21/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 42 • No: 8

Senate vote • 2/13/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 3

House vote • 1/16/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote • 1/10/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    4/7/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    4/7/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    4/1/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    4/1/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    3/28/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    3/25/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    3/21/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading

    3/21/2025Senate

  9. Committee Report

    3/20/2025Senate

  10. Committee Executive Action

    3/20/2025Senate

  11. Hearing

    3/17/2025Senate

  12. Revised Fiscal Note Printed

    2/22/2025House

  13. Revised Fiscal Note Signed

    2/21/2025House

  14. Revised Fiscal Note Received

    2/20/2025House

  15. Rereferred to Committee

    2/13/2025Senate

  16. 2nd Reading

    2/13/2025Senate

  17. Committee Report

    1/29/2025Senate

  18. Committee Executive Action

    1/29/2025Senate

  19. Hearing

    1/23/2025Senate

  20. Referred to Committee

    1/17/2025Senate

  21. 1st Reading

    1/17/2025Senate

  22. Transmitted to Senate

    1/16/2025House

  23. 3rd Reading

    1/16/2025House

  24. Revised Fiscal Note Printed

    1/16/2025House

  25. Revised Fiscal Note Signed

    1/16/2025House

Bill Text

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    3/24/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    3/24/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    1/9/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    11/26/2024

    PDF

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