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HB 228

Revised requirements for the reporting of actual costs for legislation with projected fiscal impacts

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Mercer

Montana revises fiscal reporting standards to require state agencies to document actual costs against projected impacts for legislation, improving budget accountability and cost estimation accuracy.

Chapter Number Assigned
#legislature #statefinance(seealso:appropriations;taxationsubjects)
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Bill Summary · HB 228

Legislative bill overview

HB 228 modifies Montana's requirements for fiscal reporting on legislation by revising how state agencies must document and report the actual costs of bills that included fiscal impact projections. The bill appears to establish new standards or timelines for comparing projected costs against real-world expenditures after legislation takes effect.

Why is this important

Accurate fiscal accountability is essential for legislative budgeting and public trust. By improving how actual costs are tracked and reported against projections, the state can better evaluate whether legislation performed as expected financially and make more informed decisions on future bills. This can reveal whether fiscal impact statements are consistently accurate or systematically over/underestimating costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden: Revised reporting requirements may increase workload for state agencies already managing tight budgets, potentially diverting resources from service delivery
  • Retroactive application: Unclear whether new requirements apply only to future bills or also to previously enacted legislation, which could create compliance challenges
  • Accountability vs. blame: Agencies may resist detailed cost reporting if actual expenses diverge from projections due to factors beyond their control (economic changes, emergency circumstances, implementation challenges)

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

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