A bill to include modern-day bed-and-breakfasts in the state’s collection of bed taxes has passed the Montana Senate and will now make its way to the House.
Bed tax, or lodging facility sales and use tax, is collected by hotels, motels and campgrounds. A portion of the money is deposited into the state’s general fund, as well as a state special revenue fund used to promote the state.
Republican Sen. Dee Brown is the sponsor of Senate Bill 150, which expands the definition of “accommodations” to include vacation homes or rooms rented by owners. She says she didn’t sign the fiscal note because it said there would be no impact on the general fund.
“I think there is going to be a slight uptick in bed tax because of people who haven’t been aware of it before,” Brown says.
The House Taxation Committee will hear first testimony on the bill Thursday.
Freddy Monares is a reporter with the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation.