MT SB409

Restructures lodging facility use tax distribution, allocating funds to Department of Commerce for specific purposes: 24.5% for tourism media and advertising, 16.5% for rural and tribal tourism, 15.5% for tourism emergency services and grants, and 2.5% for regional tourism assistance

Increases allocation for emergency lodging for domestic violence and human trafficking victims from 0.1% to 2.5% of lodging tax proceeds and makes the previously temporary program permanent

Expands the emergency lodging program to include "recovery assistance" covering emotional and psychological counseling, crisis intervention, and safety planning for victims

Removes the annual $400,000 deposit to the Montana heritage preservation and development account, replacing it with 2% of lodging tax proceeds

Changes university system travel research allocation from 2.5% to 2%, and invasive species funding from 1.4% to 1.5%, effective July 1, 2025