Montana Homestead Act

Background on the Changes

Montana's property tax system was restructured through bills like HB 231 and SB 542 in the 2025 legislative session. The goals included:

  • Reducing taxes for most owner-occupied homes and stable long-term rentals.

  • Not a great narrative and hardly true, lots of second homes and most short term rentals are owned by Montana residents

  • Implementing a more progressive, tiered rate structure based on home value.

A transitional phase occurred in 2025, with interim tiered rates and a one-time up-to-$400 rebate for qualifying primary residences (for taxes paid in 2024, claimed by October 2025). The full system kicked in for 2026 taxes.

Key Features of the Homestead Reduced…

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Montana on the Olympic Stage:

Big Skies, Big Dreams, and the Families Behind Our 2026 Winter Athletes

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, are underway, and Montana is once again on the global stage—this time through two standout athletes carrying Big Sky pride halfway across the world.

For those of us who call Montana home—whether in Bozeman, Helena, Whitefish, or the quieter corners of the state—there’s something especially moving about watching “one of ours” take center ice or launch off a massive jump on the other side of the globe.

It’s not just about medals. It’s about seeing pieces of home: the early-morning lifts, the frozen ponds, the long drives to tournaments, and the families bundled up on the sidelines, cheering in…

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2026 Winter Olympics Schedule Breakdown (Milan-Cortina)

The 2026 Winter Olympics run from February 6 to February 22, 2026, and this guide is your go‑to roadmap for watching every moment. Across 15 sports and multiple venues in Italy, we’ve organized the action into three easy viewing blocks—Week 1 (Feb 6–12), Week 2 (Feb 13–19), and Week 3 (Feb 20–22). For each week, you’ll see when to tune in (Mountain Time, MT unless noted), which events are happening.

You’ll also find can’t‑miss highlights for U.S. fans, including key appearances from Team USA in women’s and men’s hockey, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, and more—especially in traditional U.S. strongholds like freestyle, snowboarding, and women’s hockey. Some training runs and…

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The “Big Three” Game-Day Styles

Before you pick a bar, pick your flavor of experience. In Bozeman, it usually falls into one of three camps:

1. The Classic Sports Hubs

These are your high-energy, high-volume, “game sound over the speakers” kind of spots. If you want to actually feel every first down, this is your lane.

Spectators (aka “Specs”)
Expect a strong Montana State University (MSU) crowd—loud, loyal, and fully committed to the moment. If you’re the type to high-five strangers and yell at the TV with people you just met, this is home base.

  • Vibe: Packed, electric, heavy on MSU gear
  • Game sound: Absolutely
  • Insider tip: Get there at least two hours before kickoff if you want a table. By mid-afternoon, it’s standing-room only.
    • …

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