Bill > SB409

This bill revises several laws related to the Montana Department of Commerce and the lodging facility use tax, making significant changes to how tax revenues are collected and distributed. The bill restructures the allocation of lodging facility use tax proceeds, creating more specific categories for the Department of Commerce to use the funds. These new categories include tourism media, advertising, film programs, main street programs, rural tourism, tribal tourism, tourism-related emergency services, and tourism grants. The bill also expands and makes permanent the Emergency Lodging and Recovery Program for victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, which now includes not just short-term lodging but also recovery assistance services like emotional counseling and crisis intervention. The funding for this program is increased to 2.5% of the lodging facility use tax proceeds. Additionally, the bill repeals a previous section of law (90-1-122) related to tax allocation and modifies the termination dates for several existing provisions. The changes aim to provide more targeted and flexible funding for tourism development, economic support, and victim assistance programs in Montana, with most provisions becoming effective on July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0306