House Bill 671 revises the Montana Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act to align its definition of the "Internal Revenue Code" with the definition used in the Montana individual income tax code. This change ensures consistent interpretation of federal tax law references for individuals participating in or establishing Montana ABLE accounts. By linking the ABLE Act's definition to the state income tax code, the bill aims to standardize how these financial accounts are treated under state law. The bill took effect immediately upon passage and applies retroactively to income tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
HB 648 requires the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) to provide advance notification before releasing or relocating large predators. The FWP must give verbal and written notice at least 30 days prior to the release or relocation of bears, mountain lions, or wolves. This notification is sent to county commissioners, sheriff's offices, and tribal governments within the affected county or tribal boundaries. The bill aims to ensure local consultation and coordination regarding large predator management policies.
HB 352 revises Montana's child support guideline laws, affecting parents involved in child support cases and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The bill establishes a Guidelines Review Oversight Committee within DPHHS, composed of parents, tribal members, legal professionals, and a legislator. This committee is responsible for researching, recommending changes to the guidelines, approving related policy, and verifying the accuracy of the state's child support calculator. Additionally, it requires certain DPHHS staff involved in child support to have tax preparation expertise and mandates the department to contract with a private software vendor to assist with calculator verification.
HB 114 revises consumer protection laws by establishing new requirements for insurance producers who also offer financial planning services. It mandates that these producers disclose their roles and any commissions from insurance sales, and requires written agreements for financial planning fees. The bill also defines "health insurance lead generators" and "lead-generating devices" to clarify their scope. Additionally, it expands the list of prohibited unfair claim settlement practices for insurance companies, aiming to enhance transparency and fairness for consumers in financial and insurance transactions.
HB 491 revises alcohol laws for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) that hold a limited all-beverages license. The bill allows these facilities to deliver alcoholic beverages directly to residents' individual living units, such as cottages or townhomes, within the CCRC campus. It also permits CCRCs to operate multiple alcohol service locations, including patios, decks, and swimming pool areas, provided they offer food service and are controlled by the licensee. Additionally, the bill allows for a noncontiguous storage area for alcohol within a campus that has multiple service buildings, and clarifies definitions related to CCRC campuses and dining areas.
HB 438 establishes a new "Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals." This bill consolidates the licensing and regulatory authority for several healthcare professions, including athletic trainers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists, under this single new board. The board, composed of 12 members from these fields and one public member, will be responsible for setting licensure criteria, adopting fees, and issuing or renewing licenses. This change aims to streamline the oversight of these professionals, impacting those who practice in these fields and the citizens who receive their services.
House Bill 616 allows strip and underground mine operators to use data modeling when applying for the release of their reclamation performance bonds. This means that when an operator seeks to recover the financial guarantee for restoring mined land, they can now include predictive modeling to demonstrate compliance with approved reclamation plans. This modeling will be used in conjunction with traditional monitoring data submitted to the relevant state department. The bill provides an additional method for mine operators to prove they have met environmental restoration requirements.
House Bill 474 revises the deadline for the Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide annual funding for increases in supplemental Medicaid payments to hospitals. This bill changes the required date for these payments from no later than May 5th to no later than May 15th of each year. The change directly affects the state's health department and hospitals that receive these supplemental Medicaid funds.
HB 403 mandates that the Montana State Hospital provide immediate and unlimited access to legislators. Under this bill, legislators can enter the hospital at any time, subject to the facility's routine security and safety procedures. While present, legislators are required to prioritize and respect the health, dignity, privacy, and welfare of the patients.
HB 423 revises election laws concerning the maintenance of voter registration lists, affecting registered electors and election administrators. It requires election administrators to annually update voter lists using methods such as comparing addresses with national files or sending confirmation notices. If an elector's address cannot be confirmed, they are moved to an inactive list. Election administrators must then attempt to verify the elector's address with state agencies, and the elector remains inactive until they update their registration. These list maintenance procedures must be completed at least 90 days before federal primary or general elections.
HB 503 revises existing traffic laws concerning fleeing from or eluding a peace officer. It categorizes this offense into a misdemeanor, an aggravated felony, and a felony if serious bodily injury or death occurs. The bill defines aggravated fleeing to include factors such as previous convictions, reckless driving behavior, causing over $5,000 in property damage, or leaving the state. It establishes specific penalties, including varying terms of imprisonment and fines, for individuals convicted of each level of the offense.
HB 328 revises hunting license regulations for Montana residents aged 75 and older. This bill allows these senior hunters to use a general elk license to harvest an antlerless elk, commonly known as a cow elk. This provision applies during any season in hunting districts where youth under 15 are also permitted to harvest antlerless elk. This expanded use of the general elk license for antlerless elk is specifically allowed on privately owned land.
