State Issues

• Continue support of increased exemption levels for the business equipment tax. 
• Reduce personal property tax levels.
• Represent agricultural interests regarding land values, classifications, and tax formulas.

• Continue to advocate for a divisional water court model.
• Maintain the exception to the permit process for de minimis use (exempt wells).
• Enhance tools to protect senior water rights including closure areas, monitoring, reporting, enforcement, and moving illegal water use into compliance.
• Encourage state water storage solutions and tools.

• Maintain stewardship of cattle per capita dollars to ensure investments are benefiting cattle producers.

• Ensure issues related to land use, road access, and corner crossing do not impede private property rights.

• Advocate for state trust land grazing permits to be prioritized and available for production livestock.

• Ensure regulations do not create operational burdens and financial strains to general permit operators.

Download the MSGA 2026-2027 State Policy Priorities

2025 was an important legislative year for MSGA. Going into the session, our focus was to continue to work closely with Governor Greg Gianforte and his staff, on policy issues that have a direct impact on our ranching business. MSGA’s core mission is to safeguard and improve your interests from regulatory impacts, but also to protect your private property rights, water rights, and reduce the tax burdens on your operations.

Specifically, MSGA went into this legislative session with a clear set of directives, developed from MSGA membership policy. These directives were transitioned into specific legislation, in which we worked the entire session to gain the support needed to be successful.

2025 Legislative Report