HB 712 requires individuals convicted of vehicular homicide while under the influence to pay restitution for the support of minor children whose parent or guardian was the victim of the offense. These monthly payments continue until the child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever comes later, but not past age 19. Courts determine the restitution amount by considering various factors, including the financial needs of the child and surviving guardians, and the defendant's resources. The bill also outlines provisions for when payments begin if the defendant is incarcerated and how restitution orders interact with civil judgments.
HB 736 establishes a system for nutrient pollutant loading offsets for facilities holding water quality discharge permits. It allows these permitted dischargers to meet their nutrient discharge limits by reducing nutrient pollution from other sources within the same watershed, including both direct discharge points and diffuse sources. The bill specifies varying offset percentages based on the type and location of the pollution reduction. It directs the state's environmental department to establish statewide offset values for various nonpoint pollution reduction projects, such as riparian fencing or wetlands development, and to amend existing policies to implement these provisions.
SB 182 revises the Montana Indian language preservation program to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving American Indian cultural integrity and languages. The bill provides greater flexibility for Montana tribes to partner with various educational entities, including public, nonpublic, and tribal schools, and postsecondary institutions. It encourages integrating program efforts with school district immersion programs and emphasizes collaborative professional development and the use of existing tribal language materials. The Office of Public Instruction administers the program, distributing funds equally to participating tribal governments who submit applications detailing their language preservation strategies.
HB 711 revises the process for selecting the presiding officer of the Districting and Apportionment Commission. This commission is responsible for drawing legislative district boundaries. If the initial four commissioners cannot agree on a fifth member, the Supreme Court makes the selection. Under this bill, the Supreme Court is prohibited from choosing an individual for this role who has made a campaign contribution to a major party candidate for state or federal office within the last 10 years.
HB 809 prohibits local governments in Montana from enacting, adopting, or enforcing any "extreme risk protection order," also known as a red flag gun law. It prevents local authorities from creating policies that would enforce such orders against residents or from receiving funds related to their implementation. A local government violating this law could face a civil penalty of up to $10,000. This bill directly affects Montana's local governments and residents by limiting local control over firearm regulations concerning extreme risk protection orders.
HB 636 generally revises Montana's marijuana laws, affecting cultivators, manufacturers, and dispensaries, as well as consumers. It introduces new restrictions on edible marijuana products, prohibiting shapes and packaging that appeal to children and setting specific limits on THC content per serving and per package for various product types. The bill also mandates child-resistant packaging for all marijuana products, requiring state approval for packaging and labels. Additionally, it establishes a cumulative fee structure for dispensary licenses based on the number of locations and prohibits the sale of items like hemp flower or alcohol from licensed premises.
HB 764 revises public transit laws, affecting how urban transportation districts are established and the reach of municipal bus services. The bill allows a county commissioner to file a petition to create or enlarge an urban transportation district, offering an additional method to the existing elector-initiated process. It also permits municipal bus services to operate beyond the current 8-mile limit from a city's boundary if funded by external sources like the federal or state government, a nonprofit, or if fulfilling an interlocal agreement.
House Bill 723 establishes annual reporting requirements for medical facilities where an infant is born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion. These facilities must submit a yearly report to the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) by February 28, detailing information such as the infant's gestational age, medical actions taken, and outcomes. The DPHHS is authorized to impose civil fines for late or incomplete reports. Furthermore, the DPHHS must compile and publish an aggregate annual report of this data by June 30, ensuring that no individual can be identified.
HB 792 revises laws related to marijuana labeling and education, directly affecting marijuana businesses and consumers. It mandates the display of new warning posters at all points of sale for marijuana products. The bill also expands the required warning labels on product packaging to include additional health risks, a warning about driving under the influence, and a specific "high-potency THC" warning for products over 10% THC. Furthermore, these labels and posters must provide resources for marijuana addiction assistance, and the bill grants the department rulemaking authority to implement these changes.
HB 714 revises laws for land divisions that are typically exempt from full subdivision review, affecting landowners, local governing bodies, and adjoining property owners. The bill makes it mandatory for local governing bodies to review certain land divisions and aggregations. It requires applicants to notify adjoining property owners, and a public hearing must be held if requested by neighbors. Additionally, governing bodies will use a standardized affidavit form from the Attorney General to determine if an applicant intends to evade subdivision requirements, and the bill increases a related fine.
HB 804 revises laws concerning lobbying by increasing the payment threshold for lobbyists from $2,150 to $3,000, effective for calendar year 2025. This threshold affects individuals or organizations engaged in lobbying activities. The bill also modifies the process for how the commissioner adjusts this payment threshold to account for inflation. Going forward, these adjustments will occur following a general election each even-numbered year, based on the consumer price index.
HB 825 revises laws related to healthcare decision-makers for adult patients. It allows patients to designate a "trusted decisionmaker" to make medical choices on their behalf if they lose the ability to make their own, with healthcare providers required to document this designation. The bill establishes a legal hierarchy for selecting a decision-maker for incapacitated patients, placing the patient-designated trusted decisionmaker high on that list. This ensures a patient's chosen individual has authority to make healthcare decisions if they cannot.
