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SB 519

Prohibit tax assessor entry to private property without permission

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Tezak

Montana bill prohibits tax assessors from entering private property without owner permission, risking assessment accuracy and potentially creating inequitable property tax burdens.

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#property #taxation(generally) #taxation--property
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Bill Summary · SB 519

Legislative bill overview

SB 519 would prohibit Montana tax assessors from entering private property to conduct assessments without the property owner's explicit permission. Currently, assessors have legal authority to access properties for valuation purposes, which is standard practice across most U.S. states to ensure accurate property tax assessments.

Why is this important

Property tax assessments depend on physical inspections to determine fair market values and ensure equitable taxation. Restricting assessor access could create significant administrative challenges, reduce assessment accuracy, and potentially shift tax burdens unfairly between properties that are inspected and those that aren't—ultimately affecting local government funding for schools, infrastructure, and services.

Potential points of contention

  • Assessment accuracy and equity: Voluntary access could create gaps where some properties go unappraised, leading to inaccurate or outdated valuations and unequal tax distribution among property owners.
  • Local government revenue impact: Reduced inspection data may force assessors to rely on less reliable estimation methods, potentially decreasing tax base predictability for counties and municipalities that fund critical services.
  • Property owner privacy vs. public revenue needs: The bill prioritizes individual property access denial against the longstanding principle that tax assessment is a legitimate government function necessary for public funding.

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

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