This bill requires the Montana Department of Revenue to publicly disclose settlement agreements related to property tax disputes involving industrial and centrally assessed property on its website. The law mandates that when the department reaches a settlement with a property owner, it must make the agreement and the original proposed valuation available to the public online. This provision applies specifically to settlements concerning industrial property and centrally assessed property, ensuring transparency in how tax disputes are resolved. The bill also clarifies that these agreements are final and binding unless fraud or misrepresentation is proven, while establishing timelines for dispute resolution processes.
This bill requires health insurance plans issued in Montana to cover specific diabetes and obesity treatments, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, when deemed medically necessary. It applies to individual disability policies, certificates of insurance, and membership contracts but excludes disability income, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, specified disease, and long-term care policies. The legislation defines medically necessary coverage to include diagnoses of diabetes, class 3 obesity, or polycystic ovary syndrome, while allowing standard deductibles and coinsurance but prohibiting special limitations on these specific medications. Additionally, the bill amends existing state laws to permit legislators, judges, and their spouses to continue group health plan membership after leaving office under certain conditions.
This bill, known as the Powered Wheelchair Right to Repair Act, amends Montana consumer rights laws to require manufacturers to provide independent repair providers and wheelchair owners with the necessary tools, parts, and documentation to repair powered wheelchairs. The legislation mandates that manufacturers make electronic documentation available for free and charge only for physical copies, while also ensuring parts are offered at terms equivalent to those given to authorized repair providers. Violations of these requirements would be treated as unlawful practices under existing consumer protection laws, though the bill includes protections for trade secrets and limits manufacturer liability for damage caused during repairs.
This bill requires Montana universities to provide free on-campus parking permits to faculty, staff, and students who are veterans or Montana National Guard service members. The legislation mandates that these individuals receive preference when parking permits are issued and must provide proof of their service to qualify. University presidents are authorized to establish specific rules for implementing these parking benefits at each campus unit. The measure directly affects the Montana University System by modifying parking fee policies for eligible service members.
This bill, titled the Montana Firearms Liability Clarification Act, aims to protect firearms manufacturers and sellers from lawsuits by clarifying and narrowing the legal exceptions that allow such claims to proceed. It directly affects gun companies, ammunition sellers, and individuals who might file lawsuits against them. The bill requires that any negligent marketing claim must show a specific violation of state or federal firearm laws, not just general consumer protection rules, and must prove the marketing directly targeted prohibited buyers and caused the harm. Additionally, it prevents courts from using broad interpretations of existing laws to bypass protections that shield gun sellers from liability for criminal misuse of their products.
This bill establishes the Agricultural Embedded Software Act to regulate how manufacturers of farm equipment with digital components can restrict repair and maintenance services. It directly affects farmers, independent repair shops, and equipment manufacturers by prohibiting contracts that limit the use or sale of agricultural equipment through embedded software restrictions. The law requires manufacturers to provide independent repair providers with access to necessary documentation, tools, parts, and software updates on fair and reasonable terms, ensuring these resources are available without requiring additional contracts or imposing unreasonable purchase limits. Additionally, the bill defines key terms related to equipment, repair providers, and parts pairing to clarify obligations under the new regulations.
This bill amends Montana's unemployment insurance laws to allow non-professional employees of educational institutions to claim unemployment benefits under federal guidelines. It specifically changes how benefits are calculated for workers who are not in instructional, research, or principal administrative roles, removing restrictions that previously prevented them from receiving benefits during breaks between academic terms. The key provision ensures that if a non-professional employee is denied benefits due to a reasonable expectation of returning to work, they may receive retroactive payments if they were not offered employment for the next term. This change aligns state law with federal standards for non-professional staff while maintaining existing rules for professional academic and administrative employees.
This bill requires the Montana Secretary of State to hold a public hearing for citizens proposing statewide ballot issues, allowing the public to submit comments and testimony during the review process. The key provision mandates that these hearings occur within the same timeframe as the legislative services division's review of the proposed initiative or referendum. By adding this public hearing requirement, the bill aims to increase transparency and public engagement in the ballot measure process. The changes apply to statutory initiatives, statutory referendums, constitutional initiatives, and constitutional convention initiatives, affecting citizens who wish to place measures on the statewide ballot.
This bill establishes a policy for using Montana's governor's official residence when the governor chooses to live elsewhere. It requires the governor to notify the Department of Administration if they do not plan to occupy the residence, which then informs the Legislative Services Division that the home is available for rent. The residence must be made available for temporary legislative employees during interim and legislative sessions, with priority given to employees with disabilities. The Department of Administration will create specific rules to set occupancy limits, rental fees, and other details for this program. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.
This bill updates Montana laws to regulate which flags and banners can be displayed on state buildings, public schools, and other government-owned property. It allows only specific official flags, including those of the United States, Montana, local government entities, military branches, and law enforcement, while prohibiting displays that promote political parties, ideologies, or social causes. The legislation clarifies that these rules apply solely to government-controlled spaces and do not restrict private speech or personal expression outside official displays.
This bill prohibits foreign nationals from directly or indirectly funding any Montana statewide ballot measure, including contributions to candidates, political committees, or electioneering communications. It also bars Montana entities from knowingly accepting or using foreign funds for ballot-related activities and makes it illegal to aid or facilitate such violations. The law establishes enforcement mechanisms allowing the Commissioner of Political Practices or county attorneys to investigate complaints filed by state electors or government officials, and it creates a civil cause of action with penalties of up to $500 or three times the amount involved, whichever is greater.
This bill enacts the Cosmetology Licensure Compact in Montana, allowing licensed cosmetologists to practice across multiple states with a single multistate license. The compact establishes a shared regulatory framework that includes mandatory criminal background checks for applicants and creates a data system to track license status and disciplinary actions among member states. It aims to support military families relocating by reducing licensing barriers while maintaining public safety standards through information sharing and cooperation between state licensing authorities. The legislation also grants rulemaking authority to the compact commission to define specific requirements and disqualifying events for multistate licensure.
