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Committee hears HB213 to adjust class 4 property tax multipliers after reappraisals
Summary
Representative Edward Byrne presented HB213 as a narrow cleanup adjusting class 4 residential and small-business multipliers to reflect Department of Revenue calculations and mitigate recent tax shifts; proponents said it would restore some revenue neutrality, while opponents urged caution about county-level impacts and mill-levy floats.
Representative Edward Byrne introduced House Bill 213 as a focused bill to change property-tax multipliers for class 4 residential and small-business property, saying the proposed numbers mirror Department of Revenue calculations and aim to mitigate the large increases homeowners experienced after recent state reappraisals. "This is a very simple bill that adjusts the property tax multiplier from residential and small businesses," Byrne said, adding he was open to amendments.
Proponents included long-time homeowners and local advocates who described sharp increases in tax bills after reappraisal cycles and urged the committee to adopt rates closer to DOR-reported taxable-value-neutral figures. Anne Brodsky testified homeowners bore a disproportionate share of recent increases and detailed historical precedent for rate adjustments after reappraisals.
Opponents cautioned that moving rates now could lead to unintended mill-levy increases in some counties and shift burden to other property classes. Bob Story of the Montana Taxpayers Association noted the state's shift to a two-year reappraisal cycle was intended to smooth changes and said proponents' approach could cause mill-levy float and uneven local impacts.
Department of Revenue staff explained their statutory role producing taxable-value-neutral rates for the revenue interim committee and clarified that the numbers the department provides are informational and not a recommendation to the committee. Staff also described the difference between the numbers presented to the interim committee and the broader mitigation numbers included in the bill, which attempt to roll back prior reappraisal effects.
Committee members asked about potential impacts to agricultural land and local jurisdictions. Representative Byrne closed by reiterating this bill is a micro fix within a broader package of property-tax proposals and recommended collaboration with companion senate measures. The committee closed the hearing without taking a vote.
Next steps: DOR follow-up on detailed county-level impacts and possible amendments to align the bill with a broader package of property-tax relief measures.
