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HB200 • 2025

Provide for increase in total MEDIA act film tax credits

Provide for increase in total MEDIA act film tax credits

Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Kerri Seekins-Crowe
Last action
2025-05-20
Official status
(H) Died in Process
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not become law as it died in process.

Increase in Film Tax Credits

The bill increases the limit on Montana Economic Development Industry Advancement Act film tax credits from $12 million to $350 million per calendar year.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the limit on film tax credits from $12 million to $350 million per calendar year.
  • Requires the Department of Commerce to post information about available and unallocated tax credits on its website.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Film production companies applying for Montana film tax credits.
  • The Department of Commerce responsible for managing these tax credits.

Terms To Know

Tax Credits
A reduction in taxes owed, often used as an incentive to encourage certain activities or investments.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill died in process, meaning it did not become law despite passing both chambers of the legislature.
  • It is unclear how many film production companies will benefit from this increased credit limit.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

COMMITTEE

Plain English: Amendment 1 to HB200 changes the definition of 'compensation' in Montana's MEDIA Act film tax credits by adding conditions for payments made to loan-out companies.

  • Adds a new subsection (c) under the definition of 'Compensation', which includes payments to loan-out companies if certain withholding and remittance requirements are met.
  • The amendment text is truncated, so it's unclear what other changes or details might be included in the full document.
  • The exact impact on existing tax credits and future applications of the MEDIA Act is not fully explained by this excerpt.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-20 HOUSE

    (H) Died in Process

  2. 2025-04-07 HOUSE

    (H) Missed Deadline for Revenue Bill Transmittal

  3. 2025-02-12 HOUSE

    (H) Tabled in Committee

  4. 2025-01-27 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing Canceled

  5. 2025-01-27 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  6. 2025-01-23 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Received

  7. 2025-01-23 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Unsigned

  8. 2025-01-23 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Printed

  9. 2025-01-20 HOUSE

    (H) Hearing

  10. 2025-01-15 HOUSE

    (H) Referred to Committee

  11. 2025-01-15 HOUSE

    (H) First Reading

  12. 2025-01-14 HOUSE

    (H) Introduced

  13. 2025-01-14 HOUSE

    (H) Fiscal Note Requested

  14. 2025-01-13 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Delivered to Requester

  15. 2025-01-10 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft Ready for Delivery

  16. 2025-01-09 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Assembly

  17. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Legal Review

  18. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Edit

  19. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Input/Proofing

  20. 2025-01-08 HOUSE

    (LC) Draft in Final Drafter Review

  21. 2024-12-14 HOUSE

    (LC) Drafter Assigned

Official Summary Text

Provide for increase in total MEDIA act film tax credits

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 200.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 200
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 200
2 INTRODUCED BY K. SEEKINS-CROWE
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT INCREASING THE LIMIT ON MONTANA ECONOMIC
5 DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENT ACT FILM TAX CREDITS; AMENDING SECTION 15-31-1010,
6 MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.”
7
8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
9
10Section 1. Section 15-31-1010, MCA, is amended to read:
11 "15-31-1010. (Temporary) Limitation of tax credits. (1) (a) The department of commerce may
12grant to applicants pursuant to 15-31-1004 the authority to apply for the tax credits provided for in 15-
1331-1007 and 15-31-1009.
14 (b) The authorization by the department of commerce to apply for a credit does not guarantee the
15 credit. A taxpayer authorized to apply for a credit pursuant to 15-31-1004 and this section must meet the
16 requirements of 15-31-1005 through 15-31-1009 and subsection (2) of this section.
17 (c) The department of commerce shall make reasonable efforts to post on its website the amount
18 of tax credits available and not yet allocated.
19 (2) (a) Total claims for the tax credits provided for in 15-31-1007 and 15-31-1009 may not exceed
20 [$12 million] per calendar year.
21 (b) Claims must be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis. A taxpayer whose claim for a credit
22 is disallowed because the calendar year limit has been reached may use the credit in the next calendar year
23 but the transfer of the credit to the next calendar year does not extend the carry forward periods provided for in
24 15-31-1007(5) or 15-31-1009(4).
25 (c) If a claim is disallowed because the calendar year limit has been reached, the department of
26 revenue may waive penalties and interest pursuant to 15-1-216.
27 (d) The department of revenue shall make reasonable efforts to post on its website the amount of
28 credits available and not yet claimed. (Bracketed language is temporarily amended to "$10 million" on
****
69th Legislature 2025 HB 200.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 200
1 occurrence of contingency for income tax years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 until July 1, 2025--secs. 7(6), 9,
2 Ch. 509, L. 2021--see compiler's comment.)
315-31-1010. (Effective July 1, 2025) Limitation of tax credits. (1) (a) The department of commerce
4 may grant to applicants pursuant to 15-31-1004 the authority to apply for the tax credits provided for in 15-31-
5 1007 and 15-31-1009.
6 (b) The authorization by the department of commerce to apply for a credit does not guarantee the
7 credit. A taxpayer authorized to apply for a credit pursuant to 15-31-1004 and this section must meet the
8 requirements of 15-31-1005 through 15-31-1009 and subsection (2) of this section.
9 (c) The department of commerce shall make reasonable efforts to post on its website the amount
10 of tax credits available and not yet allocated.
11 (2) (a) Total claims for the tax credits provided for in 15-31-1007 and 15-31-1009 may not exceed
12 $12 $350 million per in a calendar year.
13 (b) Claims must be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis. A taxpayer whose claim for a credit
14 is disallowed because the calendar year limit has been reached may use the credit in the next calendar year
15 but the transfer of the credit to the next calendar year does not extend the carry forward periods provided for in
16 15-31-1007(5) or 15-31-1009(4).
17 (c) If a claim is disallowed because the calendar year limit has been reached, the department of
18 revenue may waive penalties and interest pursuant to 15-1-216.
19 (d) The department of revenue shall make reasonable efforts to post on its website the amount of
20 credits available and not yet claimed."
21
22 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
23
24 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Applicability. [This act] applies to income tax years beginning after
25 December 31, 2024.
26 - END -