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Government Affairs

7. McCullough Roach - Government Affairs Committee Chair

McCullough Roach

Government Affairs Committee Chair

The Government Affairs Committee has been hard at work this year, advancing the political perspective of real estate. We have prioritized key issues, including elections, zoning, and property taxes.

Ensure you are registered to vote at your current address!

To check your voter registration, use this website. If you need to register or change your voting address, please use this form or visit your local election office using this regional directory to update your voter registration.

The GAC will be publishing GAR’s Election Voter Guide soon to help you cast informed votes in the State Senate, State House, and County Commission races in your district. This guide will also help you better understand the Local Government Review elections, Ballot Initiatives, and mill levies.

Property taxes are an ongoing conversation throughout Montana, affecting each Senate and House district race, as well as county elections. Southwest Montana’s county and city governments are contemplating, reviewing, or passing new mill levies and tax assessment districts. To best serve our communities and ensure that property taxes are not an undue burden, GAR and the GAC have committed to helping eligible Montanans reduce their property tax burden. In partnership with Billings, Helena and Great Falls Association of REALTORS®, we are spearheading an effort to spread the word about Montana’s Property Tax Relief Programs. We need your help to make this happen!

• Check out and share our website: Montana Property Tax Help

Our Local Political Coordinator (LPC) program is live!

With around 1,500 members, the power of our REALTOR® Association lies in our knowledge, community advocacy, and mobility. Politicians listen to residents who are engaged, measured, and motivated. We know how powerful and influential it is when our members are active and vocal in fighting for real estate friendly policies.

If you follow local politics, know community decision-makers, or want to make a positive impact on local government policies, now is the time. Being a REALTOR® advocate in your community is one of the most important ways to ensure the future of your business. The GAC encourages members to explore the LPC Program via our Handbook and consider submitting an LPC Application.

Generally, the GAC has focused on fighting for REALTORS in the following political discussions:

• Zoning Code Re-Writes

• Growth Policies

• Water and Land Use

• Affordable Housing initiatives

• Missing Middle Housing

• Public Lands & Open Space