All Roll Calls
Yes: 582 • No: 406
MontanaHB 86369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
Generally revise state finance laws
Sponsored By: Llew Jones (Republican)
Became Law
State FinanceAppropriations
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Estimated tax payments required for many
Most individuals who owe Montana income tax must make estimated payments during the year. You must pay at least the lesser of 90% of your current‑year tax or 100% of last year’s tax if you filed a 12‑month return. You do not have to pay if withholding plus estimates is under $500, if you are a farmer or rancher, if you retired after age 62 or became disabled (also the next year), or if a casualty, disaster, or other good cause led to underpayment. Payments are generally due in four installments, with an annualized option.
Property tax rate changes for homes
Residential class four property is taxed at 0.76% of market value, but only if House Bill 231 also becomes law. For single‑family homes, the value over $1,500,000 is taxed at 1.4 times that rate. Commercial property is taxed at 1.4 times the residential rate. The residential rate must also bring in at least $452 million in mill levy revenue, which can affect the final rate.
Funding for community forensic evaluations
The state provides a one‑time $7.35 million for the 2025–27 biennium. The money funds community‑based, court‑ordered forensic fitness evaluations through the health department. This expands access to evaluations outside state facilities.
More money for state worker pay
The state provides $25.8 million in the 2025–27 biennium to raise pay for executive branch employees. OBPP sends the money to agencies, and those raises become part of base budgets. OBPP also studies market pay and can allocate funds to fix pay gaps. The governor’s budget director must approve each transfer, and all increases become part of agencies’ base budgets.
Property tax rebates tied to HB 231
The state sets aside $90 million for property tax rebates for the two‑year period starting July 1, 2025. The money is available only if House Bill 231 and this act both become law. You receive a rebate only if you qualify under HB 231’s rules.
Agency efficiency study and budget rules
OBPP must study benefits, costs, and efficiency across principal departments and certain state‑owned health care facilities. The study must finish by September 1, 2026, and any findings go to the Legislative Finance Committee. The law provides $350,000 from the general fund for this work in the 2025–27 biennium. Beginning July 1, 2028, “general revenue appropriations” means money from the general fund and the school equalization and property tax reduction account.
Plan for budget shocks and recessions
During the 2027 biennium, the governor and legislators are encouraged to call a special session if big federal changes or a U.S. recession cut Montana revenues and OBPP’s actions are not enough. Triggers include a federal revenue loss over $500 million for the biennium, cancellation of more than $300 million in federal spending, a $300 million drop in state general fund revenue, or an NBER‑declared recession before September 1, 2026. If a qualifying special session convenes, $280,000 from the general fund is provided to the Legislative Services Division at that time.
Lodging tax funds heritage projects
Starting July 1, 2025, $250,000 each year of the biennium goes to the Montana Heritage Commission. The money funds projects at Reeder’s Alley in Helena and Grace Methodist Church in Virginia City.
New rules for state investment board
The Board of Investments is placed in the Department of Commerce and can hire a chief investment officer, an executive director, and six professional staff. The board now has nine governor‑appointed members plus one member each from the public employees’ and teachers’ retirement boards. Two nonvoting legislative liaisons, from different parties, may attend meetings and get paid by the legislative council. The board is designated quasi‑judicial, uses a restricted enterprise fund, and must present its budget at least every two years to key legislative committees and report during sessions when asked.
Funding for Montana-Ireland trade work
The Department of Commerce gets $250,000 for the 2025–27 biennium to carry out Montana‑Ireland trade and development work under Senate Bill 320. Lawmakers intend to add this funding to the department’s base budget in the 2027–29 biennium.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Llew Jones
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/30/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 59 • No: 41
House vote • 4/30/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 55 • No: 45
House vote • 4/29/2025
ReconsAction and place on the 85th day - Howell
Yes: 58 • No: 39
House vote • 4/29/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 38 • No: 60
House vote • 4/25/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 28 • No: 21
House vote • 4/23/2025
Do Concur As Amended
Yes: 28 • No: 22
House vote • 4/23/2025
AMD-HB0863.001.017 Kassmier D/PASS
Yes: 50 • No: 0
House vote • 4/23/2025
Rerefer to Tax-Usher
Yes: 21 • No: 29
House vote • 4/23/2025
AMD-HB0863.001.012 Mr. President D/PASS
Yes: 17 • No: 32
House vote • 4/23/2025
AMD-HB0863.001.023 Flowers D/PASS
Yes: 29 • No: 21
House vote • 4/23/2025
AMD-HB0863.001.019 Esp D/PASS
Yes: 19 • No: 30
House vote • 4/17/2025
Take HB 863 from Comm-Kassmier
Yes: 26 • No: 24
House vote • 3/31/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 78 • No: 21
House vote • 3/29/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 76 • No: 21
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/19/2025HouseSigned by Governor
5/13/2025HouseTransmitted to Governor
5/7/2025HouseSigned by President
5/6/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
5/5/2025HouseReturned from Enrolling
5/1/2025HouseSent to Enrolling
4/30/2025House3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate
4/30/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred
4/30/2025HouseReconsidered Previous Action; Placed on 2nd Reading
4/29/2025House2nd Reading Senate Amendments Not Concurred
4/29/2025HouseReturned to House with Amendments
4/25/2025Senate3rd Reading Concurred
4/25/2025SenateMotion Failed
4/23/2025Senate2nd Reading Concurred as Amended
4/23/2025Senate2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
4/23/2025Senate2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried
4/23/2025Senate2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
4/23/2025Senate2nd Reading Motion to Amend Failed
4/23/2025Senate2nd Reading Pass Consideration
4/18/2025SenateTaken from Committee; Placed on 2nd Reading
4/17/2025SenateHearing
4/2/2025SenateFirst Reading
4/1/2025SenateReferred to Committee
4/1/2025SenateTransmitted to Senate
3/31/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/30/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
4/23/2025
Introduced
3/25/2025