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House panel reconsiders Montana Ammunition Act, adopts six‑year sunset and advances amended bill
Summary
The House Taxation Committee reconsidered House Bill 329 (the Montana Ammunition Act) and adopted a six‑year sunset amendment before voting 11‑10 to advance the amended bill from committee.
The House Taxation Committee reconsidered House Bill 329, the Montana Ammunition Act, and advanced the measure after amendments and close votes.
A motion to reconsider committee action on House Bill 329 succeeded on a roll call (12‑9). Committee debate then focused on an amendment that inserts a six‑year termination date on the bill’s broad package of state tax exemptions. Representative Nicola Cocos (amendment proponent) described the change as a way to limit the state’s exposure and to provide a time‑limited inducement for manufacturers to establish operations in Montana.
The amendment adding a six‑year sunset passed on a roll call, 19‑2. Debate during the hearing emphasized competing views about economic development incentives and local fiscal fairness. Representative Konauer opposed the proposal, saying, “I am against this,” and arguing that the bill would let a new business use local services (roads, fire protection) without paying its share. Other members noted some existing local abatements and suggested phased property‑tax abatements as an alternative. Supporters described the measure as a recruitment tool to attract industry and said they were willing to consider further floor amendments that would impose more local taxes or graduated abatements.
After the sunset amendment passed, the committee voted on the bill as amended. The committee’s roll call shows the measure passed out of committee on a narrow vote of 11‑10. The transcript records tallies for the reconsideration motion, the amendment and the final committee vote; committee members debated the fairness of a full state tax exemption on property, income and business equipment taxes and whether local governments would be unduly burdened.
The committee’s action moves the amended HB 329 forward with a six‑year sunset; the transcript shows proponents expecting to work on additional amendments on the House floor to address property‑tax concerns and to consider phased abatements or municipal involvement in local taxation.
