HB 797 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise occupational licensing laws

HB 797, also known as the "Expanding Physician Access Act," aims to revise occupational licensing laws to facilitate the licensure of international physicians. The bill establishes a process for the board to grant provisional licenses to international physicians who meet specific educational, examination, and experience requirements, and have an employment offer from a healthcare provider in the state. These provisional licenses automatically convert to full licenses after three years of continuous active practice in the state. This initiative seeks to remove barriers for internationally licensed physicians to fill vacancies, particularly in rural and primary care settings, while maintaining existing standards of care and licensing requirements.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 26, 2025 Last action May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC2949.pdf HB0797_1.pdf · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill was renamed from LC 2949 to HB 797 and includes significant substantive changes to the definitions and licensing requirements for international physicians. The bill now provides clearer criteria for who qualifies as an international physician, establishes a provisional licensing pathway for those sponsored by healthcare providers, and adds specific requirements for revocation and conversion of licenses.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include more detailed definitions of international physicians and established a new provisional licensing pathway specifically for international physicians sponsored by healthcare providers.
DEFINITION

Added detailed criteria for what constitutes an 'international physician' including requirements for medical doctorates, licensing standing, residency training, practice experience, and English fluency.

ELIGIBILITY

Created a new provisional license pathway for international physicians who have employment offers from healthcare providers operating in the state.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for provisional licenses including immigration eligibility, passing US medical licensing exams, and background investigation results.

ENFORCEMENT

Established grounds for revoking provisional licenses including failure to maintain employment, violations of medical safety standards, and provided appeal procedures to district court.

TIMELINE

Added provision that provisional licenses automatically convert to full licenses after 3 years of continuous active practice in the state.

Floor votes · House Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

200
Passed
Total votes 20
Mar 3, 2025
D Democratic8
8 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican12
12 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Mar 3, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (20-0)
house
Mar 3, 2025
Amended
(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Greg Oblander
Greg Oblander
RRepublican
MT
38