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HB 231 proposes broad property-tax rewrite: homestead relief, long-term rental credit and small-business carve-outs
Summary
Representative Lou Jones' House Bill 231 would create a package of property tax changes including a lower rate for owner-occupied primary residences, a lower rate for long-term rentals, a two-tier commercial rate to favor small businesses and an agsteads exemption to hold farmsteads harmless. Supporters said the bill targets out-of-state property
Representative Lou Jones opened the hearing on House Bill 231 and described a comprehensive attempt to reshape class 4 property taxation with three central elements: a lower rate for owner-occupied primary residences (an "owner-dwelling" rate), a reduced rate for long-term rental properties intended to encourage workforce housing, and a bifurcated commercial rate to lower taxes on small Main Street businesses while applying a higher rate on the portion of large commercial values above a threshold.
Sponsor summary and intent
Jones said the proposal was developed by the governor27s property-tax task force, Department of Revenue staff and other policy experts and is designed to address an evolving Montana tax base in which residential property makes up an increasing share of taxable value and a rising share of bills are mailed to out-of-state addresses. He described the bill as seeking to "bring those folks to the table" (out-of-state property owners) and to…
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