All Roll Calls
Yes: 485 • No: 0
MontanaHB 39469th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Revise local government public notice and resolution requirements
Sponsored By: Larry Brewster (Republican)
Became Law
Local GovernmentCities and TownsCity OfficersCounties
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Maintenance fees: deadlines and 75% minimum
City councils must estimate annual maintenance costs by the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in September and adopt the assessment resolution before the first Monday in October. The law requires the council to levy at least 75% of the total maintenance cost across the district’s properties. When assessing installation costs, the clerk must publish notice and hold the hearing at least 5 days after final publication. For maintenance assessments or method changes, the notice must describe the method and the hearing must be at least 5 days after final publication.
Earlier, clearer notice of utility hikes
Your city must publish utility rate hearing notices three times, spaced at least 6 days apart, with the first no more than 28 days before and the last at least 3 days before the hearing. The city must also mail you notice 7 to 30 days before the hearing with an estimate of how much the average bill will rise. If a regional authority triggers the increase, the city must mail notice at least 15 days before the authority’s hearing and notify you at least 10 days before adoption. In that case, the city does not have to hold its own hearing.
Budget hearings and adoption deadlines
Taxpayers and residents can require local officials to attend the preliminary budget hearing and answer questions. The budget must be adopted by the later of two dates: the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in September, or within 30 days after receiving certified taxable values.
Stronger local public notice rules
Cities and towns must publish meeting agendas before meetings. By default, legal notices run twice at least 6 days apart, with the first at least 5 business days before the action. If a small town has no qualifying newspaper or 500 or fewer people, it may post in three public places and on its website. Notices must list the date, time, place, a short summary, and a contact; radio or TV may supplement, and an affidavit can prove publication. Publishers must be paid before publishing; qualifying papers must meet weekly and sworn‑circulation rules, city newsletters do not count, contract awards require a paper with 12 months’ local publication, and if a paper misses the second run, timely posting still satisfies the law.
Faster subdivision reviews and notices
For expedited subdivision review, local government must decide within 35 working days after the application is complete, or 45 days if you request a variance. Cities and towns must offer this expedited review when the subdivision qualifies. For hearings on a specific subdivision, the county must publish notice at least 15 days ahead and send registered or certified mail postmarked at least 15 business days ahead to the subdivider and owners or contract buyers of adjoining property. Before adopting subdivision regulations, officials must publish the hearing notice 15 to 30 days in advance.
More voice in zoning and growth
For growth policies, officials must publish notice at least 10 days before the hearing using the correct county or city rule. Hearings on zoning, boundary changes, and annexations must follow the city or town timing rules, often at least 15 days before. Before adopting interim zoning, the body must publish at least 7 days’ notice and hold a hearing; in cities, an interim ordinance ends after 6 months unless extended up to 1 year after new notice and a hearing. In other local cases, an interim ordinance takes effect after first reading and may last up to 1 year, and a land use plan and zoning rules must be in place first. Before adopting rules for four or more rental buildings on one tract, officials must post notice in at least five public places at least 30 days before a hearing and address public comments.
Housing tax exemption: new paths and hearing
Before applying for the property tax exemption for low‑income rental housing, the local government must publish notice, hold a public hearing on community need, and send the hearing record to the housing board. A single‑member LLC fully owned and controlled by a qualifying nonprofit counts as the nonprofit partner. A lessee with a lease over 49 years who takes on most ownership duties, including paying property taxes, counts as the owner. If two related rental properties are run together with substantially the same beneficial owners, officials measure qualifications together.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Larry Brewster
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/15/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 97 • No: 0
House vote • 4/14/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 96 • No: 0
House vote • 4/7/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 49 • No: 0
House vote • 4/5/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 45 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 99 • No: 0
House vote • 2/22/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 99 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/5/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/1/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
4/22/2025HouseSigned by President
4/22/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
4/18/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
4/15/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/15/2025House3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
4/15/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
4/14/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
4/7/2025Senate3rd Reading Concurred
4/7/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred
4/5/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
4/1/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
3/31/2025SenateHearing
3/16/2025SenateReferred to Committee
3/3/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
2/24/2025House3rd Reading Passed
2/24/2025House2nd Reading Passed
2/22/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Passed as Amended
2/19/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended
2/18/2025HouseHearing
2/10/2025HouseFirst Reading
2/6/2025HouseReferred to Committee
2/6/2025HouseIntroduced
2/5/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/15/2025
As Amended (Version 3)
4/1/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
2/19/2025
Introduced
2/5/2025