“Expand the business equipment tax exemption from $1 million to $3 million, eliminating the tax for more than 700 small businesses, farms, and ranches.”
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Gianforte made raising the business equipment tax exemption from $1M to $3M a headline priority of the 2025 Montana session, carried as SB 322 by his ally Sen. Josh Kassmier and promoted through his budget and public advocacy (framed as eliminating a "tool tax" for ~700 businesses/farms/ranches). The bill was amended down from $3M to $1.5M in committee, passed the Senate 40-9, but was tabled 15-8 in House Appropriations on Apr 23, a reconsideration motion failed 48-52 on Apr 24, and SB 322 "Died in Process" on May 23, 2025, never reaching the governor. No expansion was enacted — the exemption remained at $1M — so the promise was NOT kept. Because Gianforte genuinely led the effort but it failed within the normal legislative process (and no partial increase became law, since the $1.5M amendment died with the bill), the correct outcome is ATTEMPTED rather than FULL/CHAMPIONED (not achieved) or PARTIAL (no actual increase enacted).
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