HB 50 protects parents and pregnant women with drug use disorder by preventing child welfare investigations or custody actions solely based on positive drug test results. It amends Montana law to shield individuals seeking treatment or prenatal care from criminal charges related to drug use, and prohibits using drug test results alone to initiate child abuse cases or remove children from homes. The bill directly affects pregnant women, parents, healthcare providers, and child welfare systems by ensuring medical care access isn't penalized. Key provisions include immunity for seeking overdose help and requiring medical evaluation as the primary factor in child welfare decisions.
HJ 54 is a joint resolution requesting Montana's Legislative Council to conduct an interim study on waste-to-energy technologies. The study would examine whether waste-to-energy facilities could supplement Montana's energy resources, analyze economic impacts on citizens and industries, investigate global technologies (like incineration and gasification), and assess environmental/social effects compared to traditional waste management. It requires a final report to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026. This procedural resolution (not a law) died in the House on May 22, 2025, and would not directly affect policy until after the study concludes.
HB 822 proposes changing Montana's constitutional amendment process by raising the voter approval threshold from a simple majority to 60% (three-fifths) of votes cast in a statewide election. This would directly affect Montana voters who would need to approve constitutional amendments submitted via legislative referendum starting with the 2026 election. The bill amends Article XIV, Section 8 of the Montana Constitution to require this higher approval rate, while maintaining the existing two-thirds legislative vote requirement for proposing amendments. The bill died in committee on May 22, 2025, and was never enacted into law.
HB 803 requires claimants in asbestos lawsuits to disclose all related asbestos trust claims within 30 days of filing their case, including any pending or settled claims. It mandates that claimants provide defendants and courts with all trust-related materials (like proof of claim forms and medical records) and prohibits claiming privilege over these documents. The bill also allows defendants to seek discovery of asbestos trust materials, which become automatically admissible in court to establish exposure and liability. Finally, it permits defendants to offset awarded damages by the amount already paid or owed by asbestos trusts, with offsets distributed proportionally among liable defendants.
HJ 12 is a Montana joint resolution requesting the U.S. Congress remove federal requirements for electric vehicle (EV) purchases. It cites Montana-specific challenges like limited rural charging infrastructure, reduced EV range in cold weather, and lack of all-terrain EV options, arguing these make EVs impractical for Montanans' needs. The resolution does not create new law but asks Congress to eliminate federal EV mandates, allowing Montanans to choose vehicle types freely. It was referred to a committee but died in 2025 without further action.
HB 334 sought to revise laws concerning disaster and emergency funding. The bill proposed to increase the statutory appropriation available to the Governor's office for declared emergencies from $16 million to $22 million per two-year period, effective July 1, 2025. It also would have allowed the Department of Military Affairs to use up to $3 million annually from this fund for disaster and emergency services activities, such as planning, training, and response, without a formal governor's declaration. Unspent funds at the end of each biennium would continue to be transferred to the fire suppression account.
HB 569 sought to revise laws related to perjury and false swearing. The bill proposed changes to the penalties for these offenses, introducing mandatory minimum jail sentences and adjusting maximum terms and fines. For perjury, the punishment would shift from state prison to county jail, while still requiring a minimum 6-month term. For false swearing, new mandatory minimums for jail time and revised fines were introduced. Additionally, the bill mandated that credible allegations of both perjury and false swearing be investigated by an agency independent of the judiciary.
HJ 8 is a study resolution requesting an interim committee to examine Montana's electric vehicle (EV) registration fees and charging station taxes. It directly affects EV owners, who currently pay an annual fee $152.46 higher than the average gas vehicle owner's fuel tax. The resolution directs the committee to assess the fairness of these fees compared to gas vehicles, review other states' approaches, and develop a more equitable system to address road funding gaps. The study, required to report to the 70th Legislature by September 2026, died in process on May 22, 2025, and never became law.
HB 316 is a constitutional amendment bill that would redefine "person" in Montana's constitution to include all humans from fertilization or conception onward, regardless of developmental stage. It would specifically state that unintentional harm to an unborn child by a mother cannot form the basis for a legal claim. If passed, the amendment would require the legislature to create implementing laws and would be submitted to Montana voters in the November 2026 general election. The bill died in committee during the 2025 legislative session and has not advanced to a vote.
HJ 72 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study on how Montana's Department of Transportation (DOT) shares personal information from driver records. It directs a committee to examine why and how driver data is shared with government agencies or businesses, what specific information is disclosed, who receives it, and how this impacts Montanans' privacy. The study must also assess if data sharing generates revenue for the DOT and how the department tracks these disclosures. The resolution requires the study's findings to be reported to the 70th Legislature by September 2026. As a procedural request for analysis, it does not change current law or directly affect residents.
This joint resolution (HJ 49) requests an interim study of U.S. Highway 212 east of Billings, Montana, which has the state's highest rural roadway fatality rate (2013-2022) and faces issues like poor road conditions, limited winter maintenance, and lack of cell service. The study would investigate these safety problems, gather data from Montana DOT and local communities, and examine solutions used on other rural roads. It does not create new laws but aims to develop recommendations for safer conditions. The resolution died in committee in May 2025 and never became law.
House Resolution 8 is a procedural bill that recognizes and details a historical account of racism and bigotry within the Democratic Party. The resolution outlines various historical events, figures, and policies associated with the party, from its founding in 1828 through the early 20th century. It describes connections to institutional slavery, the Indian Removal Act, Jim Crow laws, and support for the Ku Klux Klan. This resolution serves as a historical reflection and does not enact new policy.
