Dear Editor: HB231 and SB542

Dear Editor,

Since the 2025 session convened, the Montana Freedom Caucus and other conservatives have been planning to expose HB231 and SB542, which are supposed to take effect in 2026. The Montana Chamber of Commerce knew it would impact property tax shifts to businesses, and that's why they lobbied so hard against it. Legislators were adamant to pass something, despite the ramifications. Now we see some calculations of the estimated impacts.

Phillips 66 Company had an increase of $11,301,544 for the tax year 2025, with an estimated increase of $14,429,22 for 2026, an increase of 21.6%.

CHS I...