HB 857 proposes to establish a surcharge for hunters and anglers who lease private land for hunting or fishing. Individuals who lease land would be required to declare their lease and pay an additional 10% of their annual lease payment to the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks when purchasing a conservation license. The revenues generated from this surcharge would be specifically used to fund the state's block management program. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the revocation of hunting and fishing privileges for at least five years.
HB 288 proposes to establish a father's financial obligation to support a child starting at conception, rather than at birth. This bill would allow mothers to seek financial support from the father during pregnancy to cover associated expenses. It also includes a provision permitting a mother to object to paternity genetic testing while pregnant. The bill aims to ensure both parents share financial responsibilities from the beginning of pregnancy.
HB 613 revises the requirements for public libraries and public library districts to receive state aid in Montana. The bill mandates that libraries receiving state grants must provide matching funds, requiring $1 in cash for every $1 of the grant. These matching funds must be contributed by local or tribal governments and cannot come from other state or federal sources. To ensure compliance, a responsible official must certify that these matching fund requirements have been met.
HB 837 establishes a statewide Retired Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program to support new teachers by pairing them with retired teachers from the same school district. School districts can optionally participate, matching a new teacher with a former teacher for up to three months of guidance. Participating districts compensate retired teachers hourly for up to 36 hours, and the Office of Public Instruction then reimburses these costs. The program, funded by an annual $100,000 state appropriation, aims to provide new teachers with support such as classroom feedback, administrative assistance, and help with district policies.
HB 777 proposes revisions to laws governing guardianships and conservatorships, affecting individuals appointed to care for adults and manage their assets. It requires all prospective guardians and conservators to disclose any bankruptcy proceedings or certain criminal convictions. Professional guardians and conservators, defined as those serving three or more unrelated individuals, would need to be certified and provide detailed information regarding their background, fees, and any disciplinary history. The bill also clarifies a guardian's duties concerning an adult's visitation and communication, and mandates the submission of a guardianship plan.
HB 871 aimed to prevent municipalities from requiring a zoning change, specifically from single-family to multi-family, for parcels of land located outside city limits to connect to municipal water or sewer systems. It would have amended existing law to explicitly prohibit this requirement. The bill also included a $1,000 appropriation to the Department of Environmental Quality for updating related documents. This measure would have primarily affected property owners outside city boundaries seeking to access municipal utility services.
HB 783 aimed to revise health insurance laws by requiring coverage for specific conditions and treatments. It would have mandated individual health insurance policies to cover glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome when medically necessary, including for diagnoses of diabetes or class 3 obesity. While allowing standard cost-sharing and cost containment measures, the bill prohibited special limitations on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Additionally, it sought to add other mandatory coverages, such as fertility preservation services and therapies for Down syndrome, to state group health plans. The bill would have affected individuals with these conditions and those covered by applicable health insurance policies in the state.
HB 310 proposed establishing a state matching grant program to increase community shelter capacity for the homeless population. Administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, these grants would help local governments and eligible nonprofit organizations. The funds would specifically target services for senior citizens, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, youth transitioning from foster care, and individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. Applicants would be required to provide matching funds and collaborate with existing homelessness service providers. The bill appropriated $2 million from the general fund for the program, which was set to operate from July 2025 to June 2027.
HB 485 sought to revise residential home construction contract laws. It proposed that an accepted bid in a residential home construction contract would constitute the total amount to be paid. This means a contractor could not increase the bid amount after it was accepted. However, this provision would not apply if the parties agreed in writing, before bid acceptance, that the bid was not the final amount. This bill would directly affect homeowners and contractors involved in residential construction agreements.
HB 272 aimed to designate legislative bill drafting files as public records, allowing citizens to request and view these documents. These files would include draft versions of bills, research, legal analyses, and communications between legislators and bill drafters. While making these files public, the bill clarified that a legislator's constitutional privilege protects them from prosecution for their legislative acts, meaning file contents could not be used as evidence against them in court. However, this privilege would not prevent the disclosure of the bill drafting files themselves, though private writings or communications with personal staff could remain protected unless voluntarily shared.
HB 374, titled "Revise gambling laws," aimed to allow nonprofit entities to conduct an expanded casino night. The bill would have permitted additional types of games to be played during these expanded casino nights. To achieve this, it proposed amendments to specific sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), including definitions related to gambling activities.
HB 945 aimed to establish the Early Childhood Education and Child Care Infrastructure Grant Program in Montana. This program would have provided up to $10 million in grants to licensed child care facilities and school districts across the state. The grants were intended to fund capital expenses, such as property acquisition, construction, renovation, and equipment purchases, to create new or expand existing child care programs. Recipients of grants $50,000 or more would have been required to provide matching funds or in-kind contributions. The bill also set limits on the maximum funding per county and per individual project.
