Second-home tax bills advance aiming to reduce tax bills for homeowners landlords
Governor Greg Gianforte’s signature property tax relief measure advanced Tuesday toward final legislative votes. Now contained in House Bill 231 and Senate Bill 542 it would scale back taxes on primary residences and long-term rentals and avoid cuts to local government services by pushing taxes up on second homes and Airbnb-style short-term rentals. It would also pass higher tax bills onto some agricultural and business properties.
Montana House and Senate Advance Resolutions Supporting Beef Producers and Marketing Programs
The House passed House Resolution 34 Tuesday which is in support of Montana beef producers while the Senate moved House Resolution 52 forward. That one continues the discussion of a checkoff or marketing and education program for Treasure State cattle products. As of January 2025, there were 1.2 million beef cows in Montana and about 1 million calves in the state. Agriculture in Montana is a $6.5 billion industry
Judge extends restraining order protecting the records of two international MSU students
Federal Judge Dana Christensen has ordered that a restraining order be extended for two weeks. The ruling Tuesday by the Missoula judge prevents the Trump administration from deleting records of two Montana State University international students while he decides whether to issue a preliminary injunction. As of April 24th over 1,800 students had their international student status revoked.
Trump administration to end life saving narcan program
More than 100 people die every year from a drug overdose in Montana and more than 15,000 emergency department visits annually are attributable to substance use. The Trump administration plans to end the $56 million Narcan distribution program credited with helping massively cut overdose deaths that distributes doses and trains emergency responders to use narcan.
2025 Legislature Debates Record Number of ‘Study’ Bills This Session
In two years the next Montana Legislature will reconvene in Helena but before then the 2025 legislature has asked for studies on everything from farmers’ markets to changing the date of primary elections. Lawmakers have proposed 80 different study bills 42% more than the 10-session average of about 56. Seven of this session’s study bills have fully passed and 60 are still waiting for a final decision.
Libraries across Montana await grant confirmation amid turmoil at federal agencies
Amid turmoil at the federal agency that distributes the money Montana State Librarian Jennie Stapp says she is cautiously optimistic an annual grant that benefits public libraries across the state will be fully funded. She has received word the state will receive at least half of its typical grant which comes from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Montana received a little more than $1.4 million last year.
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The Gallatin City-County Health Department announced Tuesday two more people connected to five previously reported cases of measles in the county have tested positive for the virus. Both were not vaccinated against measles and are being monitored for symptoms while isolating at home. There is no evidence of community transmission.
Humanities Montana announced Tuesday it is receiving a grant of up to $250,000 from the Mellon Foundation following news its budget was slashed as part of recent federal budget cuts. The money is part of a $15 million “emergency funding commitment” from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for all 56 states and jurisdictional councils of the Federation of State Humanities Councils.
Family Promise of Greater Helena will take over a women’s and children’s homeless shelter project after its partner nonprofit Good Samaritan Ministries withdrew. They had been collaborating on a 16-room two-story shelter that would be Our Place drop-in center by day emergency women’s and children’s shelter Ruth’s Place by night.
More than 1,000 acres in the Little Rocky Mountains of north-central Montana are for sale for $68 million. The proposed sale comes as gold hit a record-high of $3,500 an ounce April 22. Two days later President Trump signed an executive order to “increase American critical mineral production.”
