Bill amendment changes our tune

Sen. Carl Glimm’s property tax-relief plan is riding a swell of support as it floats closer to a final vote in the House.

“It’s getting kind of popular,” the Republican from Kila said last week about his Senate Bill 90, which has already gotten a stamp of approval in the Senate. 

His bipartisan plan creates a state property tax assistance account using funds collected from state lodging and rental car taxes. It’s estimated that $56 million would be divided up between 230,000 eligible primary residences in 2026, resulting in a rebate of roughly $240 per homeowner. 

The idea garnered rave reviews in a House Taxation Committee hearing last week — representing an about-face from where the legislation started. 

As originally submitted, Glimm’s bill would have depleted Department of Commerce funding for tourism promotion, the state heritage preservation fund and the Montana University System. Some of the programs that were to be cut included made in Montana marketing, rural tourism development, and statewide tourism marketing and industry research. It also eliminated grant programs for agritourism, tribal tourism and events like Evergreen’s Show ‘N Shine and the Bigfork Arts Festival. 

This editorial board was among the early critics of the legislation, pointing out the negative impact that would result from strangling the golden goose that is tourism and its many adjacent industries across Montana. 

But a significant change to the proposal offers optimism that lawmakers are in fact listening to their constituents. A new amendment alters the bill’s formula to only tap into the state general fund. It no longer affects the Department of Commerce programs, the heritage fund or the university system. 

The Billings Chamber of Commerce was among the groups to switch positions following the amendment, and to thank Glimm for hearing their concerns.  

It’s a refreshing result and one that can be held up as an example of how thoughtful legislation can be crafted through bold ideas and a willingness to pivot for a more well-rounded outcome. 

There’s still more discussion to come on this bill as details are hammered out on who would qualify for the credit. 

As it stands, the credit is only eligible for a single-family primary residence valued at less than $1.5 million. Given the skyrocketing valuations in areas like the Flathead Valley, this leaves out a good number of longtime residents who may be house rich in valuation but still struggle to afford the property tax bill for the place they’ve always called home.

It’s a conundrum the House should consider as it debates Glimm’s creative solution to finally providing some property tax relief.