HB 701 aimed to establish a new method for calculating attorney fees when a government entity in Montana is ordered to pay them in a legal case. The bill proposed that these attorney fees could not exceed the hourly salary rate of the state's Attorney General, multiplied by the hours the attorney worked on the specific legal action. This would directly affect the amount of attorney fees paid by the state, its political subdivisions, or agencies when they are assessed such fees.
HB 287 proposes to revise laws concerning dangerous drugs, primarily by introducing enhanced penalties. It establishes additional prison sentences for individuals who knowingly possess or use a firearm while committing offenses related to the criminal distribution or possession with intent to distribute dangerous drugs. The bill also sets specific, stricter penalties for the distribution or possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and similar substances, including mandatory minimum prison terms for certain quantities. Additionally, it clarifies that fines can be imposed alongside imprisonment for criminal distribution of dangerous drugs.
HB 177 aimed to update state laws regarding tobacco products. The bill proposed expanding the definition of "tobacco" to include alternative nicotine and vapor products, which would subject them to existing tobacco product license fees. It also sought to repeal a state prohibition, thereby allowing local governments to enact their own ordinances banning the sale of all tobacco products, including alternative nicotine and vapor products. This would have affected businesses selling these products and granted new regulatory power to local jurisdictions.
HB 577 proposes a change to the appointment and tenure of the state Highway Patrol Chief. Currently, the Chief holds office until termination for cause. This bill would amend existing law to state that the Highway Patrol Chief would instead "serve at the pleasure of the attorney general." This means the Attorney General could remove the Chief without needing to show cause, and this change would apply to any new appointments made on or after the bill's effective date.
HB 826 proposes to revise Montana's tobacco tax laws by increasing the state tax on cigarettes. The bill would raise the tax from $1.70 to $2.70 for each package containing 20 cigarettes. This tax is precollected by wholesalers and applies to individuals who purchase cigarettes for consumption. The bill also retains existing provisions regarding tax exemptions for sales to tribal members on Indian reservations.
HB 815 sought to create a process for transferring the administration of all Montana school elections from school clerks to county election administrators. The bill established a target date of July 1, 2029, for this transition to be completed statewide. It required the Office of Public Instruction, county superintendents, and county election administrators to submit a report by March 1, 2026, detailing a statewide plan, including existing election structures, financial concerns, and a transition timeline. This report would then be used by a legislative committee to recommend necessary statutory changes.
HB 445 aimed to revise the legislative goals for public education in Montana. The bill sought to encourage public elementary and secondary schools to provide instruction in reading and writing cursive handwriting to all students. This instruction was intended to develop cognitive and fine motor skills and ensure students could read original historical documents, such as the United States Constitution. It would have amended current law to incorporate this as an explicit goal for the state's public school system.
HB 930 revises watercraft laws concerning nighttime boating and waterskiing. The bill allows motorboats or vessels to tow persons engaged in waterskiing or similar activities between sunset and sunrise, which was previously prohibited. This is permitted if the vessel and the towed person are properly illuminated, as determined by rules adopted by the fish and wildlife commission. The bill also exempts professional exhibitions or authorized races from this restriction. It grants the fish and wildlife commission rulemaking authority for these new provisions and appropriates $1,000 for rule development and information dissemination.
HB 436 would have required trappers to post notice signs when setting traps or snares near public trails and trailheads on public lands administered by the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Trappers would need to place signs within 1,000 feet of a trailhead or 100 feet of a public trail if traps are present. The bill specified requirements for sign size, durability, and content, including a warning message and contact information for the department. Trappers would also be responsible for replacing missing or illegible signs within 24 hours and removing them once traps are no longer in place.
HB 537 proposed creating a new "birth day" tax credit for resident taxpayers in Montana upon the birth of a child. The credit would be up to $3,000, or the total of the taxpayer's Montana income taxes, federal income taxes, and FICA contributions, whichever is less. This credit would be refundable, allowing taxpayers to receive a refund even if they have no state tax liability. The credit amount would be reduced for higher-income taxpayers and capped at $1,500 in certain situations, such as for parents filing separately or unmarried parents sharing custody. If passed, it would have applied to income tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
HB 776 aimed to generally revise laws governing residential landlord and tenant relationships. The bill would have required property management companies to provide 90 days' notice to tenants for any changes to or termination of a rental agreement, specifically for tenancies exceeding one year. It also proposed updates to various definitions relevant to landlord-tenant interactions, including "property management company" and "case of emergency." Additionally, it would have adjusted the notice requirements for extending written rental agreements.
HB 782 revises the membership requirements for county planning boards. This bill changes a provision that currently mandates at least one member of a county planning board must also be a member of a conservation district or a state cooperative grazing district. If enacted, county planning boards would instead have the option to include such a member, rather than being required to. This directly affects how county planning boards are constituted and who serves on them.
