This bill amends Montana's professions and occupations laws to clarify the rules for medical practitioners dispensing drugs to their own patients. It requires practitioners who dispense medications to register with the state board of pharmacy and pay an associated fee, while allowing non-practitioner staff to deliver prepared and sealed medications to patients after verifying their identity. The law maintains that practitioners can only dispense drugs they are authorized to prescribe, with specific exceptions for emergencies, rural areas without pharmacies, and certain public health settings like family planning clinics and urban Indian clinics.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the ban on same-sex marriage from the Montana Constitution. It would allow couples of any gender to legally marry in the state by repealing Article XIII, Section 7. The measure requires a two-thirds legislative vote to pass and would be placed on the November 2026 ballot for voters to approve or reject. If approved by the electorate, the change would take effect on January 1, 2027.
This bill revises Montana laws governing the independent review panel for metal mine tailings impoundment plans, directly affecting mining companies and the state Department of Environmental Quality. It updates definitions related to mining operations, tailings storage facilities, and engineering roles, while establishing clearer criteria for panel members who must be recognized experts in tailings facility design, construction, operation, and closure. The legislation also mandates written reports from review panels and grants rulemaking authority to ensure consistent oversight of tailings storage facility safety and compliance.
This bill updates Montana's local nuisance laws by requiring a minimum of three property owner complaints within a quarter-mile radius before county officers can inspect properties for community decay issues. It clarifies what constitutes a public nuisance by including conditions that endanger health, are offensive to the senses, or obstruct property use for an entire community or neighborhood. The legislation also adds a specific prohibition against placing violation notices on illegally parked vehicles in accessible parking spaces. These changes apply to counties and municipalities across Montana and will take effect on January 1, 2026.
This bill requires county election administrators to create detailed spreadsheets tracking election results by ballot type, including registered voters, ballots issued and cast, accepted and rejected ballots, and precinct-level data. These spreadsheets must be posted publicly on county websites, retained permanently, and submitted to the secretary of state before election certification. The secretary of state will use this data to prepare a reconciliation report, which is then distributed to legislators, posted statewide, and presented to a state committee. If discrepancies are found during reconciliation, the secretary of state must refer the matter to legislative leadership, who may convene an audit committee to investigate. The bill also grants the secretary of state authority to adopt rules implementing these reporting requirements.
This bill revises Montana judiciary laws to allow Supreme Court justices or district court judges to issue subpoenas for internet crimes against children task force officers investigating the sexual exploitation of minors, enabling them to request specific digital records like account information and payment details. It reorganizes the Judicial Standards Commission by allocating it to the Department of Justice for administrative purposes while maintaining its independent decision-making authority, and prohibits judges from serving as the commission's presiding officer. Additionally, the bill establishes a higher burden of proof for constitutional challenges to legislative acts, requiring challengers to prove unconstitutionality beyond a reasonable doubt, and sets effective dates for these changes.
This bill amends Montana's drug laws to set maximum THC concentration limits and package size restrictions for marijuana products sold at dispensaries. It directly affects dispensary operators, consumers, and medical marijuana cardholders by establishing new rules on what products can be sold and in what quantities. The key provisions limit total THC in any product to 15%, cap flower sales at 15% THC, and restrict single-serving edibles to 10 milligrams of THC while maintaining an 800-milligram package limit for most products. Medical marijuana cardholders would still be able to purchase higher-THC products, while adult-use consumers would be subject to the lower potency limits. The bill also authorizes the state department to adopt rules for inspecting dispensaries and establishing these THC content limits.
This bill updates Montana's voter registration procedures to ensure that address verification processes specifically target permanent address changes rather than temporary moves. It requires election administrators to compare voter lists against national change-of-address files and mail confirmation notices to registered voters who appear to have moved permanently. The law also mandates that voters who fail to respond to these notices after 30 days be moved to an inactive list until they verify their address or re-register. Additionally, the bill clarifies that voters on the absentee ballot list who have not filed a permanent change of address with the U.S. Postal Service must continue receiving absentee ballots for subsequent elections. These changes aim to improve the accuracy of voter rolls while maintaining protections for eligible voters who have changed their permanent residence.
This bill revises Montana election laws by requiring individuals to provide their date of birth when registering to vote. It also mandates that absentee voters include their date of birth on the signature envelope when returning their ballot. Election administrators would then be required to verify both the signature and the date of birth on absentee ballot envelopes against the voter's registration record. If the date of birth or signature does not match, the ballot will be treated as questioned. These changes directly affect new voter registrants, absentee voters, and county election officials.
This bill requires Montana's Department of Corrections to consider an inmate's family connections when transferring them to correctional facilities outside the state. The law mandates that officials evaluate both the strength of an inmate's family attachments and their ability to maintain those relationships during out-of-state placements. This change applies specifically to inmates being moved to institutions in other states, ensuring family ties are factored into placement decisions. The bill amends existing Montana Code Annotated provisions regarding inmate population management and out-of-state contracts while adding this new consideration requirement.
This bill amends Montana's criminal procedure laws to require law enforcement officers to show a search warrant to a known lawful occupant of a property before conducting a search. It also mandates that officers provide a copy of the warrant and a receipt for seized property to the person from whom it was taken or leave these documents at the location. The amendment clarifies that failing to provide these documents does not make the seized property inadmissible in court. The changes apply immediately upon the bill's passage and approval.
This bill revises Montana laws governing mental health holds and legal proceedings for individuals with mental disorders. It establishes a 72-hour mental health hold that allows professionals to detain individuals who cannot care for themselves or pose a danger to themselves or others, requiring evaluation within the first 24 hours and notification of legal authorities. The legislation also permits waiving an individual's right to be physically present at hearings under specific conditions, such as when their presence would seriously worsen their mental condition, while maintaining that rights to counsel and treatment cannot be waived. Additionally, the bill clarifies procedures for minors and outlines how costs for psychiatric examinations and commitment proceedings are handled.
