Advocacy
Legislative Priorities
Reauthorization of the Coal Trust Multifamily Homes Program:
To help address the shortage of affordable homes, in 2019, the Legislature passed House Bill 16, which created the Coal Trust Multifamily Homes Program and provided $15 million of Coal Trust funds to be invested in loans for projects that develop or preserve multifamily rental homes within Montana.
In 2023, the Legislature reauthorized the Program through HB 819, providing an additional $50 million of funding.
Of the $65 million available, only $73 remains at the beginning of 2025. As we approach the 2025 legislative session, it is crucial to secure additional funding, as there are no remaining resources to continue issuing loans.
For More Information: Coal Trust One-Pager
Bill Look-up: LC 1868
Support of a Montana Workforce Housing Tax Credit:
As Montana’s population grows, the expansion of new homes fails to keep pace. Throughout rural and urban Montana, the shortage of homes Montanans can afford hurts our quality of life and economy. Exacerbating that challenge, the Montana Board of Housing is forced to leave $96.1 million in federal 4 percent credits on the table without a state workforce housing tax credit. This shortfall of existing resources leaves multigenerational, hard-working Montana families in a bind.
In response to the housing crisis, Governor Greg Gianforte announced and reauthorized the formation of a housing task force to identify “short- and long-term recommendations and strategies for the State of Montana to increase the supply of affordable, attainable workforce housing.” The Governor’s final housing task force report in 2022 and 2024 recommended passing a state-based housing tax credit.
For More Information: Housing Tax Credit One-Pager
Bill Look-up: HB 21
