Bill > LC0441

This bill modifies Montana's property tax exemption law for Native American tribes and tribal members by expanding the existing temporary tax exemption to include property owned by individual tribal members, not just tribal governments. The exemption applies to property located within Montana that is part of a pending trust application with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). To qualify, a tribe or tribal member must submit a complete initial trust application to the BIA and a property tax exemption application to the state department. The exemption is temporary, lasting no more than 5 years, and requires annual certification that the trust application remains under active consideration. If the trust application is denied, the property becomes taxable retroactively, with taxes calculated based on the property's value during the exempt period. The bill also requires the secretary of state to notify all federally recognized tribal governments in Montana about the new law and specifies that the act is effective immediately upon passage. This change aims to provide tax relief for Native American tribes and tribal members during the complex process of transferring land into trust status, potentially supporting tribal land ownership and economic development.

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/lc/bill/2/LC0441