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Bill Summary · SB 534

Legislative bill overview

SB 534 establishes a property tax exemption for wireless infrastructure facilities in Montana. The bill removes these assets from the property tax rolls, meaning owners of cell towers, antenna equipment, and related wireless infrastructure will no longer pay local property taxes on this equipment. This exemption applies to private wireless infrastructure deployed across the state.

Why is this important

Wireless infrastructure owners will see reduced operational costs, potentially incentivizing network expansion and infrastructure investment in Montana. However, local governments lose a revenue source previously collected through property taxes on this equipment, which may impact their budgets for schools, emergency services, and other public services funded by property tax revenue. The exemption could influence private investment decisions about where to deploy 5G and broadband infrastructure.

Potential points of contention

  • Municipal revenue impact: Counties and municipalities lose property tax revenue from wireless infrastructure previously on the tax rolls, requiring either budget cuts or alternative revenue sources
  • Equity concerns: The exemption benefits private telecom companies while residential and business property owners continue paying full property taxes, raising fairness questions
  • Rural broadband trade-off: While intended to incentivize infrastructure investment in underserved areas, the exemption applies statewide, potentially providing subsidies for profitable urban networks as well

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

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