Property Tax Reform Headed To Governor’s Desk
Author: Kyle Schmauch, Chief of Staff & Communications Director
Property Tax Reform Headed to Governor’s Desk
Kyle Schmauch
Chief of Staff & Communications Director
HELENA, Mont.— Long-term property tax reform that will reduce future tax increases is headed to Governor Greg Gianforte’s desk after Senate Bill 117 cleared its final vote in the legislature yesterday.
Sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, SB 117 ensures that property taxes collected on new development are used to offset taxes paid by existing homeowners and businesses.
“Montana is growing, especially in our larger cities where property taxes are the highest, and those new developments bring in a lot of new property tax revenue,” Zolnikov said. “SB 117 addresses runaway property tax increases by making sure money from all that new development is used to reduce property taxes for existing homeowners.”
SB 117 passed both chambers of the legislature with overwhelming Republican support. It was based on Zolnikov’s SB 511 that narrowly failed in the 2023 legislative session.
“We’ve got plenty more work to do on property taxes before we wrap up the session, but SB 117 is an important structural reform that will help contain property tax increases heading into the future and we got it across the finish line,” Zolnikov said. “This a long-term solution to a long-term problem of endless government growth.”
