This bill revises Montana's pharmacy laws to update definitions, clarify the role of pharmacy technicians, and remove outdated requirements for in-state and out-of-state mail-order pharmacies. It grants the Board of Pharmacy expanded rulemaking authority, requires clinical pharmacist practitioners to obtain an endorsement to practice, and eliminates old notification rules for biosimilar products and generic drug signage. The legislation also clarifies pharmacy wholesale distribution licenses and repeals several outdated sections of the state code. These changes directly affect pharmacies, pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, and the state Board of Pharmacy.
This bill updates Montana laws governing mining leases on state-owned lands, primarily affecting mining companies and the state Board of Land and Mineral Resources. It establishes minimum lease terms of at least 10 years for both metallic minerals and nonmetallic minerals, with extensions tied to production or legal challenges. The legislation also restricts public access to certain geological information for a minimum of five years after lease expiration and allows lease modifications through agreement between the board and lessees.
This bill transfers the authority to license emergency care providers from the Montana Board of Medical Examiners to the Department of Labor and Industry. It directly affects emergency care providers who currently hold licenses through the medical board, as their oversight and regulation will shift to a different state agency. The bill also updates the composition of the Board of Medical Examiners to include one emergency care provider member and adjusts the number of public members on the board. Additionally, it grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Labor and Industry for managing licensing programs and revises several state code sections related to medical care standards and definitions.
This bill revises Montana's driving under the influence laws by amending the state code's general definitions section. It directly affects individuals charged with DUI offenses and legal professionals who interpret these statutes. The key mechanism involves updating the definitions of "felony" and "misconduct" within the code to clarify how penalties are applied. The bill does not change specific DUI penalties or create new offenses but rather refines the legal terminology used across multiple sections of the Montana Code.
This bill updates licensing requirements for facilities regulated by Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services, including community homes for people with severe or developmental disabilities. It adds a specific definition for "substance use disorder treatment facility" and amends multiple state codes to clarify what constitutes a health care facility and provider. The legislation also revises definitions related to managed care plans, emergency medical conditions, and health benefit plans to ensure consistency across health-related statutes. These changes aim to modernize the legal framework governing health care facilities without altering existing operational requirements.
This bill amends the qualifications for members of Montana's Board of Massage Therapy. It requires the five-member board to include one healthcare provider, three massage therapists, and one public member, with specific restrictions to ensure diversity and independence. The massage therapist members cannot own schools that educate massage therapists and must come from different national professional associations. This change aims to update the composition of the regulatory board overseeing massage therapy practices in the state.
This bill revises Montana's driver licensing laws to expand access to driver's license examinations and adjust age requirements for licensing. It requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide driver's examinations in every county at least once per month if requested, and allows minors as young as 13 to obtain restricted licenses under specific hardship circumstances. The legislation also clarifies eligibility criteria by specifying conditions under which individuals cannot be licensed, including requirements for verifying lawful presence in the United States for non-citizen applicants. These changes take effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill revises Montana state law to clarify the purpose and core functions of free public libraries, ensuring their services align with traditional library roles. It directly affects all public libraries in the state by defining specific activities they must provide, such as access to books and digital materials, educational support, technology access, literacy programs, and meeting spaces. The legislation prohibits libraries from offering services unrelated to these core functions, while allowing flexibility for other activities consistent with library purposes. This change aims to standardize library operations across the state and maintain focus on information access and community education.
This bill eliminates the Tobacco Prevention Advisory Board in Montana by repealing the section of state law that established it. It modifies existing tobacco settlement funding rules to remove the requirement that money from the tobacco prevention account be used to support the advisory board. The changes affect how state funds from tobacco settlement proceeds are allocated, specifically allowing those funds to be used only for tobacco disease prevention programs and Children's Health Insurance Program matching without any portion going to the advisory board. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval by the legislature.
This bill updates Montana election laws to clarify how election judges must prepare for counting votes during primary elections. It requires judges to separate ballots by political party, count each party's ballots separately, reconcile ballot totals with voter numbers, and bundle voted ballots by party for return to election administrators. The changes apply to all primary elections in Montana and take effect immediately upon passage.
This bill directs Montana's Board of Investments to avoid investing in securities traded in jurisdictions where federal accounting oversight is restricted or blocked. It requires the board to consult with the Securities and Exchange Commission every two years to ensure compliance with these investment restrictions. The legislation mandates that the board divest from any securities it cannot invest in under these rules, either when doing so causes no financial loss or whenever deemed prudent. These changes apply to all state investments managed by the board and take effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill requires individuals convicted of vehicular homicide while under the influence to pay monthly restitution for the support of minor children whose parent or guardian was killed in the incident. The court will determine payment amounts based on the child's needs, the surviving family's financial situation, and the defendant's ability to pay, with payments continuing until the child turns 18 or graduates high school. The law includes exceptions if the surviving family has already received compensation through a civil lawsuit and specifies that payments must begin within a year of the defendant's release from prison. Additionally, the bill amends related Montana statutes to clarify sentencing guidelines and remove the possibility of sentence deferral for this specific offense.
