Montana Legislature Concludes 69th Session
HELENA — The Montana Legislature concluded its 69th session on Wednesday, April 30, after 85 working days. Marking the end of the session, lawmakers adjourned "sine die," meaning without a scheduled return, with many packing up and leaving the State Capitol shortly thereafter.
On the final legislative day, the House kicked off with a focus on House Bill (HB) 231, a key property tax proposal. This bill, linked to Senate Bill (SB) 542, seeks to establish new “homestead” tax rates that will reduce taxes on primary residences while increasing them on non-qualifying properties. To facilitate implementation, the bills propose interim rates for the initial year along with a one-time rebate of up to $400. Despite the potential tax shift impacting other property types, supporters maintained the goal was to provide meaningful relief to many Montanans.
After deliberations, the House passed HB 231 with a 60-39 vote and also approved the state’s main budget bill, totaling $16.6 billion. The Senate mirrored this effort, approving both bills by a narrow margin of 28-22.
As the session drew to a close, emotions ran high for many lawmakers, particularly those termed out after eight years. Farewell speeches highlighted their dedication to constituents, with Senate President Pro Tem Ken Bogner expressing gratitude to his supporters.
During the session, legislators reviewed over 1,500 bills. While the session is now over, Governor Greg Gianforte has the authority to sign or veto the pending legislation, which may face legal scrutiny in the coming weeks.
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