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HB 108

Eliminate reference to personal property farm manual for property tax purposes

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Tilleman

Montana eliminates the mandatory personal property farm manual for agricultural property tax assessments, potentially affecting tax consistency and burden across farming operations statewide.

Chapter Number Assigned
#taxation--agriculture/livestock #taxation--property #taxation
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Bill Summary · HB 108

Legislative bill overview

HB 108 eliminates the requirement for Montana property assessors to reference the "personal property farm manual" when determining property tax values for agricultural equipment and related farm assets. This removes a specific valuation guideline that has been used in the state's property tax assessment process for agricultural property.

Why is this important

Property tax assessments directly affect what farmers and agricultural businesses pay annually, potentially influencing farm profitability and land values. Removing this specific manual creates uncertainty about which valuation standards will replace it, potentially leading to inconsistent assessment practices across Montana counties or shifts in tax burdens for agricultural operators.

Potential points of contention

  • Assessment consistency: Without the manual's standardized guidelines, different counties may assess similar farm equipment differently, creating unequal tax treatment across the state
  • Tax burden shifts: Farmers may face higher or lower assessments depending on which alternative valuation methods assessors adopt, affecting agricultural sector competitiveness
  • Lack of clarity on replacement standards: The bill doesn't specify what valuation method should replace the farm manual, leaving implementation ambiguous and potentially subject to assessor discretion

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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