Montana property tax relief can’t wait

Montanans have been sounding the alarm on soaring property taxes — and Senate Democrats are answering that call.

With rising home values pushing people to the brink, this is not just a policy issue — it’s a crisis. Providing real, lasting property tax relief has been Senate Democrats’ No. 1 priority since day one. 

We introduced the first rate adjustment bills in both the Senate and the House, and we’ve been fighting ever since to bring clarity, stability, and fairness to Montana’s tax system. Now we are near the end of the session and still without resolution. If there’s still uncertainty, it’s not because Democrats haven’t shown up — it’s because others haven’t met the moment. We have a responsibility to our constituents to act — and we’re not backing down.

Democrats are driving the push for responsible, long-term tax solutions.

Many Republicans continue to propose temporary — short-lived fixes that may offer a brief reprieve but fail to address the root of the problem. Democrats know better. We believe the only way to deliver meaningful relief is to reduce property tax rates so that families and seniors aren’t punished for staying in their homes. That’s why we have pushed for a bipartisan solution that will strike a balance and provide meaningful relief. 

We  heard over and over again from Montanans — at the doors, in town halls, and in everyday conversations. People are tired of gimmicks. They want a property tax system that is fair, predictable and built to last.

Democrats will keep fighting for middle-class Montanans. This issue is urgent, and Senate Democrats are treating it that way. We’ve done the work. We’ve brought serious solutions to the table. And we’ve made it clear: The status quo is unacceptable. 

The session is winding down and leaving without property tax relief is not an option for Senate Democrats.

We are committed to a Montana where working families can afford to stay, where longtime homeowners are not priced out of their communities and where property taxes reflect fairness. Montanans deserve a tax system that works for everyone — not just the well-connected. Senate Democrats are ready to get it done.

Montana Senate Tax Committee members Sen. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, Sen. Dave Fern, D-Whitefish, and Sen. Denise Hayman, D-Bozeman.