HB 441 revises water laws to align temporary water use approvals, called provisional permits, with the final legal determinations of water rights in a basin, known as final decrees. It establishes a process where owners of existing water rights can petition to modify or revoke provisional permits if they conflict with the final decree. The bill requires the Department to consider the final decree when determining water availability for these permits and when issuing permanent water right certificates, affecting holders of provisional permits and existing water right owners.
SB 227 revises the laws governing various professional licensing boards, including those for medicine, optometry, and veterinary medicine. The bill eliminates the requirement for individual boards to maintain their own seals, instead standardizing the process for authenticating official documents. It also clarifies the responsibilities of these boards and removes redundant or conflicting provisions in their existing organizational statutes. This aims to streamline administrative procedures for professional licensure across the state.
This bill, HB 539, revises the process for legislative veto override polls when the legislature is not in session. It primarily affects the Secretary of State and state legislators by adding a new requirement. Under this bill, the Secretary of State must conduct a daily tally of legislator veto override votes during the polling process. This daily tally must then be published on the Secretary of State's website within 15 days of sending out the voting instructions.
SB 217 establishes a system for probationers and parolees to reduce their supervision period by earning "work time credit." Individuals can earn 1 day of credit for every 40-hour workweek of eligible employment, provided they comply with all supervision conditions and are current on court-ordered payments. Probationers and parolees must provide documentation of their employment for verification by their supervising officer. However, any awarded credit can be revoked if the individual violates a supervision condition or is charged with a new felony or serious misdemeanor offense. This credit system does not apply to individuals under lifetime supervision or those required to register as sexual or violent offenders.
HB 206 amends Montana law to clarify who can request an electrician's license at a job site. It adds "a building code compliance inspector licensed in the state" to the list of authorized individuals (alongside agency employees, union staff, department workers, and site supervisors) who may ask for license presentation. If an electrician cannot show their license, the requester may report this to the licensing board or department. The bill does not change the requirement for electricians to display licenses or the penalties for non-compliance, but expands who can verify compliance.
This bill, HB 350, prohibits the state of Montana and its political subdivisions, such as counties and cities, from enforcing or collaborating with mandates issued by the World Health Organization, the United Nations, or the World Economic Forum. It declares that these international entities have no jurisdiction within the state. Furthermore, the legislation prevents the use of public funds or resources for the enforcement of any requirements from these organizations. The bill was signed by the Governor on 2025-05-05.
SB 213 revises the state building code to permit certain residential buildings to be constructed with a single stairwell. This change applies to buildings classified as Group R-2 occupancy, which typically includes apartments or condominiums. To qualify for a single stairwell, these buildings must meet specific safety conditions. These conditions include having no more than six stories, a maximum of four dwelling units per floor, an automatic sprinkler system, and at least one window or emergency exit provision for each unit.
Senate Bill 412 provides fee waivers for certain government documents for individuals who were formerly in foster care and are under 21 years of age. This includes fees for certified birth certificates, driver's licenses, state identification cards, and replacement licenses. Fees for university academic transcripts are also waived, with the Department of Public Health and Human Services authorized to seek federal funds to reimburse the institutions. Individuals can provide an oral attestation to prove eligibility for these waivers.
SB 235 revises the qualifications for landowner-preference elk licenses and special elk permits in Montana. The bill now requires landowners to have finalized ownership of 640 acres or more of contiguous land to qualify for special elk permits, eliminating the previous allowance for those under contract to purchase such land. It also defines "employee" for antlerless elk B tag licenses as someone paid by the landowner with taxes withheld. For special elk permits, an employee must work full-time and year-round as part of an active farm or ranch operation to be designated by the landowner. These changes directly affect landowners seeking these specific elk hunting privileges.
HB 358 revises the pension benefits for eligible volunteer firefighters under the Volunteer Firefighters' Compensation Act. The bill increases the full monthly pension benefit from $175 to $200. It maintains the calculation for partial pension benefits based on years of service and includes provisions for additional increases for those who serve beyond 20 years, with further conditional increases for service beyond 30 years if the pension fund is actuarially sound. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
SB 442 revises real property manager licensing laws in Montana. The bill exempts managers of licensed lodging establishments, such as hotels and motels, from needing a real property manager license. This means individuals overseeing these types of accommodations will no longer be required to hold this specific state license. The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval.
HB 606 revises education laws related to school district reorganization in Montana. It creates a new pathway for various types of school districts to combine and form unified K-12 school districts. The bill requires county superintendents of schools to modify district boundaries as necessary to accommodate these reorganizations. Additionally, it updates existing education statutes by replacing the term "consolidation" with "reorganization." This legislation aims to provide a clearer framework for districts seeking to unify their K-12 educational offerings.
