The month of January flew by, and the Montana House of Representatives has been working tirelessly to tackle the challenges facing our state. When you elected me, I promised to support good, principled legislation that helps you, and I hope I am delivering.
Finding solutions to skyrocketing property taxes is one of my top priorities this session. Fortunately, there are several proposals the legislature will consider that would provide permanent property tax relief to Montana families and small businesses.
One proposal would tax out-of-state vacation homeowners and use those funds to provide permanent, immediate relief for full-time Montana residents. This is one long-term solution to combat rising property taxes.
A second proposal would ensure that schools across Montana have adequate funding while reducing property taxes. By redirecting excess revenue from the statewide 95 mill levy, we can link school funding directly to permanent property tax buy-downs. Montanans need property tax relief, but not at the expense of our children. This is a win-win situation for both homeowners and Montana students and teachers.
Finally, a proposed change on how we tax business equipment would provide relief to small business owners and free them up to focus on what really matters: growing their businesses, hiring more workers, and contributing to Montana’s economic growth.
Montanans deserve property tax relief, and I am committed to finding common-sense solutions to make our state more affordable for those who live, work, and raise their families here.
The six bills that I have sponsored so far have passed the House of Representatives and are now in the Senate. Here are brief descriptions.
House Bill 67clarifies language and procedures surrounding the Teacher’s Retirement System ensuring our teachers’ pensions remain fiscally sound.
House Bill 81: At the request of the Department of Military Affairs, this bill simply moves the supervision and hiring of the Montana Veterans Affairs Administrator from the Board of Veterans Affairs to the Adjutant General for more consistent oversight and human resource support.
House Bill 85 reinstates former employer contribution rates for the retirement systems of the Highway Patrol, sheriffs, and game wardens and peace officers. This ensures that we are properly taking care of our public servants who took care of us.
House Bill 88simplifies the bureaucracy around returning unclaimed property, streamlining the process for items valued under $1,000.
House Bill 94marginally expands the power of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurances to investigate noncompliance, fraud, and abuse under securities and insurance laws.
House Bill 189 revises the eligibility date for reimbursement from the petroleum storage tank cleanup fund. This will help business owners across the state access these funds to cleanup sites where petroleum tank releases have occurred.
Looking ahead, we have a lot more work to do. I am optimistic about the future of our state and will continue to be laser-focused for Montanans. Thank you for the opportunity to represent House District 75. Please contact me at marta.bertoglio@legmt.gov.
