HB 428 revises workers' compensation laws, primarily by clarifying the definition of "employer" for various entities and their workers. The bill specifies who is considered an employer for temporary workers, motor carriers, certain religious organizations, and fiscal agents making payments on behalf of workers. It also requires employers and insurers to annually submit reports detailing paid losses to help fund workers' compensation administration. Additionally, the legislation modifies the frequency of summary reports submitted by insurers and revises provisions related to medical status forms.
HB 397 establishes confidentiality standards for mental health digital services. It defines these services as mobile applications or websites that collect, use, or access information related to an individual's mental health or substance use disorder, market themselves as facilitating such services, and use the information for diagnosis, treatment, or management. The bill subjects these services to existing health care information disclosure and confidentiality provisions. It also provides for enforcement and remedies for individuals whose information is disclosed in violation of these standards.
HB 450 revises laws pertaining to Class D-5 licenses, which are required for individuals training bird hunting dogs using game birds not raised in captivity. The bill mandates that applicants for a Class D-5 license must report the number of dogs they plan to train, and this information will be printed on their license. Additionally, it grants the Fish and Wildlife Commission the authority to establish rules that limit the total number of Class D-5 licenses issued. This legislation updates licensing requirements for bird dog trainers and provides the commission with regulatory control over these specific training licenses.
HB 388, titled "Create pregnancy center autonomy and rights of expression act," prevents state and local governments from regulating pregnancy centers specifically because they do not offer, refer for, or counsel in favor of abortion or contraception. It prohibits governments from requiring these centers to provide or promote such services, or from interfering with their ability to offer services like counseling and prenatal care based on their mission. The bill also protects a pregnancy center's right to make staffing decisions based on an individual's agreement with its pro-life ethic. If these provisions are violated, pregnancy centers or aggrieved parties can pursue civil action for damages, including statutory damages of $50,000.
House Bill 671 revises the Montana Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act to align its definition of the "Internal Revenue Code" with the definition used in the Montana individual income tax code. This change ensures consistent interpretation of federal tax law references for individuals participating in or establishing Montana ABLE accounts. By linking the ABLE Act's definition to the state income tax code, the bill aims to standardize how these financial accounts are treated under state law. The bill took effect immediately upon passage and applies retroactively to income tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
HB 648 requires the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) to provide advance notification before releasing or relocating large predators. The FWP must give verbal and written notice at least 30 days prior to the release or relocation of bears, mountain lions, or wolves. This notification is sent to county commissioners, sheriff's offices, and tribal governments within the affected county or tribal boundaries. The bill aims to ensure local consultation and coordination regarding large predator management policies.
HB 352 revises Montana's child support guideline laws, affecting parents involved in child support cases and the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The bill establishes a Guidelines Review Oversight Committee within DPHHS, composed of parents, tribal members, legal professionals, and a legislator. This committee is responsible for researching, recommending changes to the guidelines, approving related policy, and verifying the accuracy of the state's child support calculator. Additionally, it requires certain DPHHS staff involved in child support to have tax preparation expertise and mandates the department to contract with a private software vendor to assist with calculator verification.
HB 114 revises consumer protection laws by establishing new requirements for insurance producers who also offer financial planning services. It mandates that these producers disclose their roles and any commissions from insurance sales, and requires written agreements for financial planning fees. The bill also defines "health insurance lead generators" and "lead-generating devices" to clarify their scope. Additionally, it expands the list of prohibited unfair claim settlement practices for insurance companies, aiming to enhance transparency and fairness for consumers in financial and insurance transactions.
HB 491 revises alcohol laws for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) that hold a limited all-beverages license. The bill allows these facilities to deliver alcoholic beverages directly to residents' individual living units, such as cottages or townhomes, within the CCRC campus. It also permits CCRCs to operate multiple alcohol service locations, including patios, decks, and swimming pool areas, provided they offer food service and are controlled by the licensee. Additionally, the bill allows for a noncontiguous storage area for alcohol within a campus that has multiple service buildings, and clarifies definitions related to CCRC campuses and dining areas.
HB 438 establishes a new "Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals." This bill consolidates the licensing and regulatory authority for several healthcare professions, including athletic trainers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists, under this single new board. The board, composed of 12 members from these fields and one public member, will be responsible for setting licensure criteria, adopting fees, and issuing or renewing licenses. This change aims to streamline the oversight of these professionals, impacting those who practice in these fields and the citizens who receive their services.
House Bill 616 allows strip and underground mine operators to use data modeling when applying for the release of their reclamation performance bonds. This means that when an operator seeks to recover the financial guarantee for restoring mined land, they can now include predictive modeling to demonstrate compliance with approved reclamation plans. This modeling will be used in conjunction with traditional monitoring data submitted to the relevant state department. The bill provides an additional method for mine operators to prove they have met environmental restoration requirements.
House Bill 474 revises the deadline for the Department of Public Health and Human Services to provide annual funding for increases in supplemental Medicaid payments to hospitals. This bill changes the required date for these payments from no later than May 5th to no later than May 15th of each year. The change directly affects the state's health department and hospitals that receive these supplemental Medicaid funds.
