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2026
69th Legislature 2025 HB 842.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 842
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 842
2 INTRODUCED BY B. BARKER, E. ALBUS, D. BEDEY, M. BERTOGLIO, J. DARLING, S. ESSMANN, D.
3 FERN, G. HERTZ, L. JONES, S. KELLY, G. KMETZ, G. NIKOLAKAKOS, G. PARRY, K. WALSH, W.
4 MCKAMEY, T. MCGILLVRAY, M. YAKAWICH
5
6 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT PROVIDING THAT THE LEGISLATURE MAY ESTABLISH A
7 SALES TAX NOT TO EXCEED 4% USED SOLELY TO REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES THAT FUND PUBLIC
8 SCHOOLS AND THE MONTANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; AND PROVIDING THAT THE PROPOSED ACT BE
9 SUBMITTED TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONTANA.”
10
11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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13 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Sales tax to reduce education property taxes -- exemptions. (1) The
14 legislature may enact a sales tax not to exceed 4% to reduce property taxes that fund public schools and the
15 Montana university system.
16 (2) If enacted, a sales tax should minimize repeated taxation by taxing final goods and services
17 and exempt the following:
18 (a) housing and utilities;
19 (b) groceries;
20 (c) fuel used for transportation and agriculture;
21 (d) health care; and
22 (e) financial and insurance services.
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24 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an
25 integral part of Title 15, and the provisions of Title 15 apply to [section 1].
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27 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on approval by the electorate.
28
2026
69th Legislature 2025 HB 842.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 842
1 NEW SECTION. Section 4. Submission to electorate. [This act] shall be submitted to the qualified
2 electors of Montana at the general election to be held in November 2026 by printing on the ballot the full title of
3 [this act] and the following:
4☐YES on Legislative Referendum ____.
5☐NO on Legislative Referendum ____.
6 - END -