2025 Montana Budget: Balanced, Responsible and Delivering Tax Relief

The 2025 Montana Legislative Session concluded on April 30, and I’m proud to report that we delivered a constitutionally required balanced budget while securing historic tax relief for Montanans. Don’t just take my word for it—Montana’s nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Division confirms it. Visit leg.mt.gov/lfd to review House Bill 2 (HB 2), the main state budget bill, for yourself.

Despite claims from some Freedom Caucus members, the facts are clear: our budget is balanced, our reserves are strong, and our obligations are responsibly met. Ironically, some legislative critics now questioning the budget’s fiscal discipline not only advocated for but helped pass bills that increased spending on non-essential items outside core government functions. 

I support Governor Gianforte’s anticipated vetoes of such bills to ensure government stays focused on its fundamental priorities. These expected vetoes will help preserve the fiscal balance we’ve achieved, reflecting Montanans’ call for responsible governance.

Our mission in Helena was clear: provide relief to hardworking Montanans. Working with Speaker Brandon Ler and Senator Wiley Galt, we delivered over $1 billion in tax relief for the biennium. HB 337 cut income taxes by $600 million, while my bill, HB 231, and Senator Galt’s SB 542 reduced property taxes by 25-30% for over 230,000 homeowners and 130,000 renters, also supporting 40,000 small businesses.

Our $3.5 billion annual General Fund budget prioritizes what I call the “Big Three”: education, healthcare, and public safety, which account for over 90% of spending. These are Montana’s core priorities, and we funded critical additional investments here:

· Education: Beyond the STARS Act (HB 252), which invests $50 million to raise teacher pay and prepare students for future careers, we supported school infrastructure and educational equity.

· Healthcare: HB 245 renewed Medicaid expansion to protect rural healthcare access, increased provider rates by $53.9 million, and stabilized hospitals and nursing homes statewide.

· Public Safety: We allocated $250 million to expand prison capacity, $150 million to modernize Deer Lodge, and $30 million to house inmates out of state—ensuring justice and safety. We also bolstered our fast-attack fire fund.

This budget aligns closely with the Governor’s proposal, coming within $183,000. After accounting for $200 million in property tax relief, $100 million in rebates, and over $600 million invested in the Growth and Opportunity Trust—plus higher federal Medicaid funding due to Montana’s rising wages—general fund growth is roughly 4% annually, in line with inflation and population growth. Claims of a 17% government expansion, as some in the Freedom caucus have suggested, misrepresent the data and ignore these adjustments.

This budget looks to the future. HB 924 established the Growth and Opportunity (GO) Trust, seeded with a $600 million surplus and projected to reach $1 billion by 2029. This trust will support local bridges, water systems, workforce housing, childcare, and, most significantly, future tax relief—building a stronger Montana for our children.

Like a prudent household or business, we balanced today’s needs with tomorrow’s opportunities: we funded essential services, saved for a rainy day, invested in our future, and returned money to taxpayers. That’s not just budgeting—it’s leadership delivering solutions that matter.

The 2025 session delivered what Montanans demanded: real tax relief, a transparent and balanced budget, and smart investments in education, healthcare, and public safety. The facts speak louder than any misinformation. I encourage you to review the budget at leg.mt.gov/lfd and share your thoughts with your representatives.

Thank you for the privilege of serving.

Rep. Llew Jones House District 18 Chairman, House Appropriations