Regier family and the Freedom Caucus need to stop trying to raise our taxes

Montanans are paying too much in taxes. Over the last five years, property values across the state have nearly doubled - driving up property tax bills and putting serious pressure on Montana homeowners.

The Montana Legislature responded to the property tax crisis by passing HB 231 and SB 542 in 2025. These bills cut property tax rates for Montana resident taxpayers.

If the Legislature hadn’t acted in 2025, property tax bills would have continued to skyrocket. Thankfully, a majority of Montana legislators passed this much-needed property tax reform that finally offered relief. But not everyone supported these efforts to cut your property taxes.

Throughout 2025, a small but vocal group of Montana Republicans including many from the Flathead Valley and a group of extremely liberal Democrats (Sullivan, Caferro, and Zephyr) fought tooth and nail against those cuts. That’s right - while your property taxes were going through the roof, Matt Regier, other Flathead County Republicans, and some very liberal Democrats were trying to prevent you from receiving meaningful property tax relief. 

About eight weeks ago, in a KJJR editorial, Matt Regier said he was “angry” the Legislature passed HB 231 and SB 542. He’s angry about tax relief? That tells you exactly where his priorities lie - and it’s not with working Montanans trying to keep their homes.

It gets worse. Freedom Caucus leader Barry Usher, another key voice in this anti-tax-cut coalition, floated the idea of a sales tax on his Facebook page. A sales tax? No way! Montanans don’t need another tax.

Meanwhile, Rep. Amy Regier, in another editorial, went so far as to suggest that cutting the property tax rate on your primary residence was somehow inequitable. If you translate Rep. Amy Regier’s editorial, what she is really saying is the Legislature should raise your property taxes because you are not paying enough.

While Matt and Amy Regier may think you don’t pay enough in property taxes, I do. For most Montanans, your house is your most important investment. You shouldn’t be taxed out of your home.

Republicans have long claimed to be the party of low taxes. That should mean no sales tax and no increases to the tax rate on your home. Yet here we are, watching the Regier family and the Freedom Caucus advocate for higher taxes. 

Montana families need real tax relief, not political games. We need leaders who understand that protecting homeowners from runaway property taxes is a priority, not a problem.

So if you’re tired of seeing your property tax bill grow while some lawmakers refuse to act, or worse fight to make things worse, let them know. Tell Matt and Amy Regier, Barry Usher, and the rest of the Freedom Caucus: stop trying to raise our taxes. Start cutting taxes and start putting Montanans first.

State Sen. Josh Kassmier is a Republican from Fort Benton representing Senate District 13 (Cascade, Vaughn, Fort Benton, Big Sandy).