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HB 411

Exempt agricultural property from open space levies

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jane Gillette

Montana exempts agricultural land from open space levies, reducing local conservation funding while lowering costs for farming operations.

Chapter Number Assigned
#agriculture(seealso:livestock;taxation--agriculture/livestock) #localfinance(seealso:cityfinance;countyfinance) #revenue #local #taxation(generally) #taxation--agriculture/livestock #taxation--property
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Bill Summary · HB 411

Legislative bill overview

HB 411 exempts agricultural property from open space levies in Montana, meaning landowners with qualifying agricultural land no longer pay these local taxes. The bill was introduced by Jane Gillette and has been signed into law as of May 12, 2025.

Why is this important

Open space levies are local taxes intended to preserve undeveloped land and natural areas. Exempting agricultural property reduces revenue for conservation programs while potentially lowering costs for farming and ranching operations—a significant economic benefit to agricultural interests but a funding loss for land preservation initiatives.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding impact on conservation programs: Local governments and land trusts may face budget shortfalls if they relied on agricultural property tax revenue for open space acquisition and maintenance
  • Definition of "agricultural property": The bill's effectiveness depends on how strictly agricultural land is defined—broad definitions could allow non-farm properties to claim exemptions
  • Tax burden shift: Other property owners (residential, commercial) may face higher levies to compensate for lost agricultural revenue, potentially shifting costs to non-agricultural taxpayers

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

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