Bill would create refundable housing‑fairness income tax credit tied to property taxes and rent

Representative Jonathan Karlen introduced House Bill 154 to the House Taxation Committee, describing it as a backstop to prevent households from facing property taxes that exceed their ability to pay. The bill would create a housing fairness income tax credit keyed to a taxpayer's property taxes paid; the proposal also extends relief to renters by applying a statute‑defined rent‑equivalent amount (15 percent of rent) as an eligible base.

Sponsor's framing and examples: Karlen said the credit would scale with income and property taxes paid so that, for example, a household with a median Montana income (he cited about $69,000) and a roughly $4,000 property tax bill could receive a credit reducing their out‑of‑pocket property tax by roughly 27 percent under the bill's formula. He described the credit as refundable and aimed at households most…