HELENA — Gov. Greg Gianforte’s office says more than 32,000 businesses are going to see lower rates for unemployment insurance next year because of a new law passed during the 2025 Montana legislative session.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 210, sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Fitzpatrick, R-Great Falls. Gianforte signed it into law during a ceremony in Helena in April.

Every year, businesses pay a tax that funds unemployment insurance — short-term benefits for people who’ve lost their jobs.

HB 210 reduces how much businesses have to pay into the unemployment relief fund when it’s full.

As of April, state leaders said the fund had a balance of more than $643 million — in part because statewide unemployment rates have been low for several years. That was enough to trigger a

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