2025 Bad Bills to Watch

BILL REQUESTS

LC1238 Revise laws to require bicycle license plates.

Essmann (R)

Comments: This bill is simply more government, requiring more enforcement officers and paperwork and penalties. Hmmm, will be interesting to see how they propose to chase down the mountain bikers.

LC2234 Establish a Montana state Bank

Sharp (R)

LC3168 Study the Establishment of a Montana state Bank

Olson (D)

Comments: Simple question - WHY?

LC3973 Provide income tax exemption for forgiven student debt

Cohenour (D)

Comments: Nope, they got their debt paid off, and they need to at least pay the taxes due.

LC4152 Provide for the right to eliminate drones above private land

Nikolakakos (R)

Comments: Manned AND unmanned (UAV) are under the sole authority of the FAA. Not a good idea to be shooting at either that are above your land.

LC4204 Require the carrying and use of bear spray when encountering bears and wolves

Fyant (D)

Comments: Another bill for government to step in and require common sense. Will be interesting to see how the ranger can bust them, when he will need the testimony of the bear or the wolf to prove a violation.

INTRODUCED BILLS

SB0004 Revise taxation of homesite on certain agricultural property (DEAD)

Beard (R)

Comments: This bill is aimed at ag folks by creating an imaginary 1 ac parcel under their homes and taxing it like it is a 1 ac lot in a subdivision. All being done at a time when the auditors have found that there are untaxed new construction projects across MT totally $1.2B! (How can lawmakers claim to be fostering growth when they are slapping taxes on ag businesses that are already struggling?)

SB0098 Revise tax rate on cigarettes that are not burned

Beard (R)

Comments: When it comes to taxes, the legislature never 'leaves any stone unturned'

SB0247 Modify tax classification of shooting ranges

Curdy (D)

Comments: No doubt that this bill is an assault bill against gun owners. It would require shooting ranges to pay property taxes, even if they are a 501(C) tax-exempt entity under federal law. Once again, it is amazing to see more taxes when the state is sitting on a huge surplus.

SB0287 Generally revise laws related to dangerous drugs (DEAD)

Baum (D)

Comments: This bill would make it a crime to possess a stolen gun or stolen ammunition, EVEN if you have no way to know that a gun or ammunition you have may have been stolen. Once again, you cannot trust the short title to include all aspects of the bill.

SB0358 Revise exempt water right laws

Galt (R)

Comments: Once again, a working group, without all the affected parties, was set up to create a massive piece of legislation that drops a hammer on rural landowners across the state. This bill is WITHOUT science and would change Montana law to adversely affect the property rights of hardworking Montana citizens. This massive bill does not recognize the different geologic and hydrologic settings across the state, and is simply designed to hurt Montanans. Exempt wells work, and this bill is wrong for Montana. IT IS A BIG BAD WATER BILL - SINK IT!

SB0549 Provide income tax credit for K-12 education expenses

Trebas (R)

Comments: This bill appeared late in the session, with little public notice. As of hours before the hearing, no sign of a Fiscal Note. This is a REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT bill, that will even cut checks (up to $1250) to claimants WHO HAVE NO TAXABLE INCOME! And at the same time, there are rallies being held, telling us about all the hard work [by legislators] to lower taxes. Hmmmmm.....

SJ0004 Joint resolution calling for convention of the states to require a balanced budget

Noland (R)

Comments: This is the 3rd session that this bill has been introduced. There is danger in the use of Art V. Many people want to attack this precious document, and the potential risk is too high to open it up.

HB0027 Remove automatic agricultural classification for certain parcels (DEAD)

Essmann (R)

Comments: This bill has a lot of negative impact on smaller acreage farms and ranches, that IF PASSED could cause ag owners to get hammered with new taxes, WHILE trying to 'sell wholesale while buying retail'.

HB0133 Require hunter reporting of hunting activity (DEAD)

Cochran (R)

Comments: Yikes, the next thing you know, will be the FWP going on the hunt with you!

HB0275 Provide for Drivers Privilege Card

Stafman (D)

Comments: Nope, if someone wants to drive, they need to get a Drivers License. This bill sends us down the wrong road......

HB0507 Constitutional amendment for sales tax to fund K-12 education (DEAD)

Barker (R)

Comments: A BIG NO ON THIS ONE! You have got to read between the lines. Once this sales tax is adopted, and money is used for the schools - there is NO stopping the legislators from resuming more taxes on Montanans! Then you will be stuck with a sales tax AND your property taxes will start to climb again. Solution: change the Constitution to totally eliminate property taxes AND add a max 4% sales tax - PERIOD!

HB0798 Repeal the ban on same sex marriage (DEAD)

Zephyr (D)

Comments: NOPE, the voters voted for CI-96 in 2004.. DONE DECIDED! The MT Constitution, Art XIII, Sec 7: 'Marriage. Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.'

HJ5 Resolution for Article V of US Constitution convention of states (DEAD)

Klakken (R)

HJ18 Resolution supporting DC Statehood. (DEAD)

Carter (D)

Comments: DC statehood is the baddest of ideas for our great country

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