All Roll Calls
Yes: 234 • No: 156
MontanaSB 13369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)SenateWALLET
Revise impact fee laws
Sponsored By: Greg Hertz (Republican)
Became Law
HousingCity FinanceCounty FinanceLocal FinanceLocal Government
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Stronger studies and updates for impact fees
Local governments must prepare and approve a service area report before charging an impact fee for a facility. The report must explain its data and methods, show the fee meets the law, and be available to the public on request. The ordinance must include a schedule to update the report. Reports must set service levels, forecast needs, list capital projects, set the fee per unit, and include a budget covering at least five years that is reviewed and updated at least every five years.
Tighter limits on local impact fees
The law tightens how local impact fees are set. Fees must match a project's proportionate share and fund only long‑lived capacity (10 years or more). Costs to fix existing deficiencies and all operations and maintenance are excluded. The admin portion is capped at 5% of the total fee. Annual increases to the initial fee cannot exceed the year‑over‑year Producer Price Index for All Commodities (1982–84=100). Fees must follow GAAP and be based on actual or reasonably estimated expansion costs. Governments must count other payments from the development and cannot require a higher service level than current users unless they also pay.
More facilities can use impact fees
The law lets local governments add other types of public facilities for impact‑fee funding with a written report. Adoption needs a two‑thirds vote in cities and towns or a unanimous county board vote. It defines development to include building, renovation, and use changes that add demand, which triggers fees. Counties, cities, towns, and consolidated governments may adopt and run impact fees.
Limits on utility connection charges
A connection charge can include only the actual cost to hook up a property to a utility. It covers labor, materials, overhead, and installing meters. Local governments and utilities cannot add unrelated costs to this charge.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Greg Hertz
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/15/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 32 • No: 18
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 30 • No: 14
Senate vote • 4/11/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 56 • No: 43
Senate vote • 4/11/2025
Do Concur
Yes: 54 • No: 45
Senate vote • 2/7/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 32 • No: 17
Senate vote • 2/6/2025
Do Pass
Yes: 30 • No: 19
Actions Timeline
Chapter Number Assigned
5/13/2025SenateSigned by Governor
5/8/2025SenateTransmitted to Governor
5/1/2025SenateSigned by Speaker
5/1/2025HouseSigned by President
4/22/2025SenateReturned from Enrolling
4/16/2025SenateSent to Enrolling
4/15/2025Senate3rd Reading Passed as Amended by House
4/15/2025Senate2nd Reading House Amendments Concurred
4/14/2025SenateReturned to Senate with Amendments
4/11/2025House3rd Reading Concurred
4/11/2025House2nd Reading Concurred
4/11/2025HouseCommittee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended
4/9/2025HouseCommittee Executive Action--Bill Concurred as Amended
4/8/2025HouseHearing
3/6/2025HouseFirst Reading
2/10/2025HouseReferred to Committee
2/10/2025HouseTransmitted to House
2/7/2025Senate3rd Reading Passed
2/7/2025Senate2nd Reading Passed
2/6/2025SenateCommittee Report--Bill Passed as Amended
2/4/2025SenateCommittee Executive Action--Bill Passed as Amended
2/3/2025SenateHearing
1/16/2025SenateReferred to Committee
1/15/2025SenateFirst Reading
1/14/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
4/15/2025
As Amended (Version 3)
4/9/2025
As Amended (Version 2)
2/4/2025
Introduced
1/13/2025