Legislative Update
 | Author:
Jane Gillette, Representative - Montana State Legislature
Representative - Montana State Legislature |
Legislative Update
Jane Gillette
Representative - Montana State Legislature
As we are nearly halfway through the legislative session, there are several important bills that Broadwater County residents need to be aware of - particularly those concerning property taxes and water management.
Three major property tax bills are currently under consideration. HB 231 provides modest property tax relief while slightly increasing taxes on homes located on agricultural land, as well as on the agricultural land itself. HB 155 offers a higher level of property tax relief for lower value homes but also raises property taxes on agricultural land and business property to a greater extent than HB 231. Another bill, SB 90, which originated in the Senate, redirects tourism dollars towards property tax relief for communities. With that said, it also reduces the funding available to the state for tourism promotion and programs aimed at attracting more visitors to Montana. The reality is – there is no perfect bill.
Another legislative item impacting Broadwater County is SB 358, the exempt well bill. This bill is the result of months of work by a water stakeholder group which included a diverse set of partners, such as producers, developers, county and city governments, and conservation groups. SB 358 establishes geographic regions across the state based on scientifically and legally available water, along with different rules for DNRC regarding monitoring those areas and exempt wells.
Green areas allow up to 24 exempt wells per development (under 160 acres), with water usage capped at 0.5 acre-feet per acre and a maximum of 1 acre-foot per lot. Beyond that, there are no restrictions on exempt wells. Yellow areas follow the same rules as green areas, but require additional monitoring by the DNRC, with areas in Flathead and Yellowstone County currently being the only designated yellow area. Red areas generally do not allow exempt wells, with limited exceptions. Residents and developers in these areas must connect to a community water system, obtain a permit, use an existing water right, or have water delivered. Some of Missoula, Gallatin, the Bitterroot, and Helena fall into this category. (A map is available online for reference.) Newly constructed units in every category will be required to have meters to monitor water usage and DNRC will evaluate the data annually. Ultimately, this bill is a compromise between all parties involved.
Regardless of the green area designation of Broadwater County in the bill, DNRC reports that the county is legally over appropriated with respect to available water and, as many already know, is in a closed basin. Since the water and water-right holder’s rights in Broadwater are at-risk, I will be taking action to have at least some of Broadwater County designated as a yellow area in the bill. A yellow designation simply means increased monitoring and support from the DNRC. In my opinion, providing more scientific oversight of our water availability is beneficial for our county.
These issues are not black and white, and legislators—including myself—depend heavily on public input. If you have thoughts, concerns, or questions, please don’t hesitate to call, text, or email me anytime—whether it’s late at night, early morning, or on the weekend. You’re never bothering me.
Representative Jane Gillette, MPH, DDS (HD 77), 406-868-1549, Jane@DrJaneGillette.com
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