HB 344 establishes a new type of driving under the influence (DUI) offense. This offense applies to both noncommercial and commercial drivers found to have a specified amount of prohibited substances, other than alcohol or marijuana, in their blood or other bodily fluids while operating a vehicle. The bill amends existing laws regarding drug concentration standards, driver rehabilitation program eligibility, and penalties for driving with a suspended or revoked license to incorporate this new offense.
HB 123 revises alcohol laws to clarify what constitutes "self-service" of beer and wine at licensed establishments. It permits customers to pour their own beer and wine from large containers like pitchers or bottles, or from electronic, technology-based devices with predetermined volume limits. This is allowed as long as the on-premises licensee or their employees actively monitor the process to prevent overserving. The bill directly affects licensed retailers and their patrons by expanding options for how beer and wine can be served and consumed.
HB 312 revises speed limit laws for drivers in Montana. The bill increases the daytime speed limit to 75 miles per hour and the nighttime speed limit to 70 miles per hour on national highways that have been expanded to four lanes and are at least 15 miles long, except in special speed zones. It also updates the penalty section to reflect these new speed limits, maintaining that minor speeding violations (up to 10 mph daytime or 5 mph nighttime) are generally not recorded against a driver's record, with specific exceptions for commercial drivers or high-speed violations on interstates.
HB 694 revises Montana's child abuse and neglect laws, impacting children, their families, and the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The bill updates state policy to emphasize child health and safety, family preservation, and children's rights. It establishes a voluntary registry for close relatives to be notified when a child is removed from their home. Additionally, HB 694 revises placement preferences for foster care and adoption, prioritizing extended family and community members with similar ethnic, cultural, and religious heritage, and explicitly disfavors placements outside of the United States.
HB 614 revises Montana county zoning laws, affecting how specific zoning districts can be terminated by county commissioners and property owners. The bill maintains the existing process where real property owners can petition for a referendum to terminate a zoning district, requiring a vote by registered electors. It also introduces new provisions allowing county commissioners to terminate a zoning district directly, after notice and a public hearing. This can occur if the county has opted into the Montana Land Use Planning Act or if the district is being incorporated into a larger, newly established zoning district.
HB 655 prohibits the state government from taking "discriminatory action" against individuals and organizations that provide adoption or foster care services based on their religious beliefs. It defines "discriminatory action" to include denying state grants, contracts, licenses, certifications, or imposing fines. The bill specifies that these protections apply to natural persons, religious organizations, and various closely held entities involved in child placement services. This aims to allow all types of adoption and foster care providers, including faith-based ones, to operate according to their beliefs without government penalty.
SB 163 revises Montana's Genetic Information Privacy Act by expanding its scope to include neurotechnology data. The bill extends privacy protections to information concerning an individual's central or peripheral nervous system activity, such as brain data, collected by various devices. It adds new definitions for neurotechnology and neurotechnology data, and revises provisions related to privacy notices and exceptions. The intent is to safeguard consumers' sensitive neurotechnology data, particularly when collected by non-invasive devices outside of medical settings. This aims to provide similar privacy protections for neurotechnology data as currently exist for genetic data.
SB 161, titled "Provide for regulation and sale of aquaculture," establishes specific guidelines for the sale of aquaculture products. The bill amends existing state law to exempt aquaculture products from general commodity sales rules concerning measurement methods (e.g., by weight or liquid measure). It also allows homemade aquaculture products to be sold in retail food establishments, a provision not typically extended to most other homemade food items. This legislation directly affects individuals and businesses involved in aquaculture production and sale by providing clarity on how their products can be marketed and sold.
Senate Bill 105 revises election laws by expanding the timeframe for prohibiting electioneering activities near polling locations. The bill prohibits activities such as campaigning, distributing items of value to voters, and displaying campaign insignia within polling places or 100 feet of their entrances. These restrictions, which previously applied only on election day, will now be in effect for all elections from when absentee ballots are available until all voting is completed. It also maintains the prohibition on soliciting voter information within polling places.
SB 178 allows individuals holding water rights (appropriators) to temporarily lease those rights to others for beneficial uses. To qualify, the water right must have been used within the last five years, and leases are limited to a maximum of 40 days per year and five years within any ten-year period. The bill specifies that the point of diversion cannot be changed, and leased water cannot be transported outside of Montana. An application process is established with the department, which includes notifying potentially affected water users and allowing for objections that could suspend a lease.
SB 111 revises state law to limit the use of green lights on public highways. The bill prohibits vehicles from displaying flashing, rotational, or continuous green lights while on a highway. It specifically authorizes the use of green lights for snow removal equipment operated by the Department of Transportation or other government entities. Additionally, police or authorized emergency vehicles serving as on-scene incident command or control vehicles are also permitted to use green lights. This bill directly affects vehicle operators and government entities by clarifying the legal use of green lights on roadways.
SB 487 revises the laws governing the Montana End of Watch Trust, which provides support to eligible law enforcement officers and their immediate families in cases of death or catastrophic injury in the line of duty. The bill requires applications for catastrophic injury payments to include a workers' compensation determination of permanent and total disability. It also allows legal children of an officer to receive payments from the trust after turning 18 under certain circumstances. Additionally, the Department of Justice is granted rulemaking authority to administer the trust, including processes for payment distribution, application approval, and appeals.
