Montana Bills

This Montana Senate resolution confirms the Governor's appointment of Brendan Beatty as the Director of the Department of Revenue. The bill formally approves Beatty's selection to serve at the Governor's pleasure, as required by state law. Once confirmed, Beatty will assume leadership of the state revenue department responsible for collecting taxes and managing related financial operations. The resolution concludes by directing the Secretary of the Senate to send copies to the Secretary of State and the Governor to complete the official appointment process.

This bill directs the Montana Insurance Commissioner to transfer $10 million annually from insurance premium tax revenue to the State Property Tax Assistance Account, which is intended to provide financial relief to property tax payers. The legislation amends existing state law to establish this funding mechanism and includes an immediate appropriation of $50,000 from the general fund to support implementation. The bill is contingent on the passage of Senate Bill No. 90, which would create the state property tax assistance account, and will not take effect if that related legislation is not approved.

This bill confirms the appointment of Chris Dorrington as the Director of Montana's Department of Transportation, a position nominated by the state Governor. The resolution formally approves the appointment made on January 6, 2025, allowing Dorrington to serve at the Governor's pleasure. By passing this measure, the Senate completes the required confirmation process for the executive branch appointment. The bill does not alter transportation policies or funding but simply validates the administrative selection of a department head.

This bill creates a new annual lottery game called Montana Millions to generate funds for property tax assistance in Montana. The game would be held once per year on July 4th, offering four $1 million prizes and allowing the sale of 500,000 tickets at $20 each. After covering administrative costs and prize money, the remaining revenue would be transferred to the state property tax assistance account to help eligible residents. The legislation includes a $50,000 appropriation from the general fund to implement the program starting in July 2025, and it would only take effect if a related Senate Bill No. 90 is also passed.

This bill creates an exemption from Montana's contractor gross receipts tax for individuals and businesses that are in good standing with state tax obligations. To qualify, applicants must be residents or licensed entities that have filed all required state income, payroll, and property tax returns on time and paid all owed taxes. The Department of Revenue will maintain a public list of qualifying contractors on its website, and the department has authority to set rules for application deadlines and renewal processes. The exemption applies to public contractors and their subcontractors working on projects exceeding $80,000, and the law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

This bill establishes a licensing system for experimental treatment centers in Montana, requiring operators to obtain a license before providing services. It creates new administrative rules that set minimum standards for facility safety, operational procedures, inspections, and data collection on treatment outcomes and adverse events. The legislation also amends the state's Right to Try Act to clarify that insurance regulations do not apply to direct agreements between healthcare providers and patients for experimental treatments. Additionally, it sets specific fees for license applications and renewals to cover administrative costs.

This bill creates a new Department of Health Services in Montana and transfers human services functions from the Department of Public Health and Human Services to this new agency. The transferred functions include developmental disabilities services, mental health care, chemical dependency treatment, and veterans' long-term care services. The bill also requires all contracts for third-party human services to include dispute resolution clauses and updates state code definitions related to department performance and structure.

This bill creates a dedicated funding account in Montana to support the design, construction, and maintenance of wildlife highway crossings and accommodations. It authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Commission to launch a specialty license plate program that generates $20 per plate to fund these projects. The account can be used for building underpasses and overpasses, conducting studies, and reimbursing the Department of Transportation for eligible wildlife crossing projects. Money in the account earns interest and remains available for future use, ensuring ongoing support for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and protecting wildlife movement across the state.

This bill authorizes the Montana Board of Investments to allocate an additional $50 million from the permanent coal tax trust fund for low-income and moderate-income housing loans, increasing the total available funding to $115 million. The legislation allows the Montana Board of Housing to administer these funds for developing and preserving homes and apartments to help eligible residents meet basic housing needs. It also updates related state statutes to clarify how these funds are managed and repaid into the coal severance tax permanent fund. The bill directly affects housing developers, nonprofit organizations, and low-to-moderate income households seeking affordable housing assistance through state loan programs.

This Montana Senate resolution confirms the governor's appointment of Jillien Streit as the new Director of the Department of Agriculture. The bill formally approves the appointment submitted by the governor on January 31, 2025, for a term at the governor's pleasure. Once confirmed, the resolution is sent to the Secretary of State and the governor to complete the official appointment process. This action allows the appointee to begin serving in the state's agriculture leadership role.

This bill revises Montana's bail bond laws to expand the legal authority of bail bond agents and improve their ability to locate and return defendants to court. It grants bail bond producers arrest authority to seize defendants without waiting for a court forfeiture order, allows them to enter private residences if necessary, and permits them to pursue defendants across state lines. The legislation also requires courts to notify bail bond agents of changes in court dates and ensures agents can participate directly in legal proceedings related to their bonds. Additionally, it establishes a statute of limitations for bond forfeitures and clarifies that judicial continuance of bonds without notifying agents is considered arbitrary.

This bill creates a special motorcycle license plate program in Montana to promote rider safety and awareness. Motorcycle owners who register for these plates will pay a $5 administrative fee, a $5 plate fee, and a $20 donation fee. The $20 donation portion goes to a state fund where the Department of Justice will distribute grants to Montana-based nonprofit organizations that focus on motorcycle safety education. The bill also adds this new funding source to the list of statutory appropriations, allowing the department to spend the money without needing annual legislative approval.