House Bill 466 amends the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) by formally defining and allowing state agencies to identify "categorical exclusions." These exclusions are actions determined to have no significant impact on the human environment and are therefore exempt from requiring an environmental analysis or impact statement. The bill also provides specific exemptions from MEPA review for activities such as building construction by the Department of Administration and historic preservation grants by the Department of Commerce. State agencies are required to track and report their use of these categorical exclusions.
House Bill 496 amends Montana law to allow the state to accept jurisdiction over certain federal lands within its borders. The bill expands the types of federal lands for which the state can accept jurisdiction, adding lands used for military purposes to existing provisions for national parks. This means Montana can take back legal authority, either partially or wholly, from the U.S. government over these specific federal areas. The Governor is authorized to accept such retrocession of jurisdiction, which becomes effective once the acceptance is filed with the Montana Secretary of State.
HB 413 revises Montana's election laws by clarifying the rules for determining residency, specifically for individuals who are temporary residents. The bill amends existing guidelines to emphasize that a person cannot gain residency for election purposes if they relocate to the state for temporary reasons, such as temporary work, training, or an educational program. This applies unless the individual intends to make Montana their permanent home after their temporary purpose concludes. These updated rules directly affect individuals seeking to register, vote, or run for election in Montana.
HB 336 establishes an alternative pathway for individuals to obtain professional licenses in various occupations through apprenticeship programs. It requires state boards and programs to grant licenses to applicants who successfully complete a nationally recognized apprenticeship in their field. This applies to a wide range of professions, including barbers, cosmetologists, addiction counselors, licensed practical nurses, plumbers, and electricians. Applicants pursuing licensure via an apprenticeship must still meet the same examination and fee requirements as those who complete traditional educational programs.
HB 393 requires governing boards of towns, third-class cities, and counties with populations under 4,500 to record their public meetings in audio format. These audio recordings must then be made available online to the public. This bill differentiates these smaller entities from other state, county, and city boards, as well as school and health districts, which remain obligated to record meetings in both audio and video. It also outlines timelines for online availability and specifies conditions under which recordings may be destroyed after one year.
HB 296 revises Montana's laws concerning professional and occupational licensing, affecting individuals in various regulated professions and their respective licensing boards. The bill modifies the general disciplinary authority of these boards, which includes powers like license revocation, suspension, and probation. It amends a general provision regarding injunctions for unlicensed practice, replacing it with a statement that no action may be taken against a person in compliance with state adult-use cannabis laws. Additionally, the bill updates specific licensing requirements and clarifies unlawful acts for professions such as optometry, physical therapy, and naturopathy, while maintaining their specific boards' ability to pursue injunctions against unauthorized practice within their fields.
HB 600 authorizes public and nonpublic schools to maintain a supply of "stock albuterol," a quick-relief asthma medication, for emergency use. This medication can be administered by a school nurse or other authorized school personnel to any individual, student or non-student, experiencing respiratory distress on school grounds or at school-related activities. Schools choosing to keep stock albuterol must develop a protocol for staff training, medication maintenance, and post-administration follow-up, including determining when to make a 9-1-1 emergency call. The bill requires a prescription for the stock albuterol, with the school designated as the patient.
HB 458 revises laws concerning physician assistants and medical malpractice claims. The bill expands the definition of "health care provider" to include physician assistants, affecting their liability in malpractice cases. It also increases the limit on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice claims, raising the initial cap from $250,000 to $300,000. This new limit will then progressively increase each year, reaching $500,000 by 2029 and adjusting annually by 2% thereafter. These changes apply to both future and existing medical malpractice claims.
HB 656 revises the use of the state's Employment Security Account and transfers the Office of Community Service. The bill amends state law to allow funds from the Employment Security Account to be used for administering the Office of Community Service and for enforcing state and federal anti-discrimination laws. Additionally, it moves the Office of Community Service from the Governor's office to the Department of Labor and Industry.
HB 285 revises the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), clarifying its purpose and impact on state agency actions and permitting decisions. The bill specifies that MEPA is a procedural law designed to provide information to the public and decision-makers, not to grant additional regulatory authority to state agencies. It also shifts the burden of proof for those challenging licensing or permitting decisions, requiring them to establish the unconstitutionality of the underlying statute. Furthermore, legal challenges must now be filed in the county where the proposed activity is located.
HB 122 revises existing right-of-way laws for utility lines on public roads, streets, and highways. It specifically expands the authorized utilities to include broadband lines and natural gas pipelines. This allows corporations and public bodies operating these services to install necessary infrastructure, such as lines, pipelines, posts, and piers, along public thoroughfares. The bill maintains the requirement that these installations must not inconvenience or endanger the public.
HB 430 repeals existing state laws that outline the process for counties to establish and operate public weighing scales. This bill eliminates the legal framework that allowed counties to own and manage these scales, as well as the rules regarding their capacity, design, and associated fees. It also removes the provisions for appointing and regulating public weighers at such facilities. Consequently, counties will no longer have the statutory authority to create or manage public scales.
