Montana Ranked Fourth Best State for Regulatory Freedom

Montana Ranked Fourth Best State for Regulatory Freedom

• September 24 2024

HELENA, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte today highlighted a report from the nationally recognized Mercatus Center at George Mason University which showed Montana ranks as one of the least regulated states in the nation.

"In Montana, we've been focused on cutting red tape to help more Montanans prosper by removing unnecessary, burdensome regulations," Gov. Gianforte said. "The results of our efforts are clear as Montana leads the nation in wage and job growth despite historic inflation brought about by the Biden-Harris administration."

The report from the Mercatus Center listed Montana as the fourth least regulated in the nation behind North Dakota, South Dakota, and Idaho, and highlighted its efforts to cut regulations.

Reducing red tape for Montanans, especially small business owners who create jobs, has been a top priority for Gov. Gianforte. According to a regulatory snapshot issued earlier this year by the Frontier Institute, one-fifth of Montana's regulations have been eliminated or amended since the governor took office.

In his first week in office, Gov. Gianforte established the Red Tape Relief Task Force through executive order to conduct a comprehensive, top-to-bottom review of regulations in every state agency.

Led by Lt. Gov. Juras, the task force worked with legislators to introduce 188 red tape relief bills last legislative session, over 100 of which were signed into law by the governor. Taken together, the bills simplify and modernize code, make government more efficient, and create greater opportunity for Montanans.

"There's a simple way for states to boost their economies: eliminate unnecessary regulations," said Dr. Patrick A. McLaughlin, Director of Policy Analytics and a Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center. "Policymakers in a handful of states, including Montana, have realized this and begun identifying red tape and getting it off the books. More states should take note of this proven and low-cost strategy."

According to an annual report issued by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, Montana added 8,700 jobs last year.

Additionally, the report showed that Montana ranks second in the nation for fastest wage growth since 2020 and the average wage earned by Montana workers reached $57,230 in 2023, a 5 percent increase over the year. Notably, Montana is only one of two states in the nation where wage growth outpaced inflation since 2020.

Working with the legislature, and as a part of his efforts to create more opportunities for Montanans, the governor was proud to deliver the largest tax cut in state history last spring, providing income tax cuts for Montanans at every level, as well as immediate and long-term property tax relief.

In addition, the governor has reformed the state's tax code to cut red tape and promote business investment and job creation, attracting businesses from around the world to Montana.

Read the full report from the Mercatus Center here.