SB 23 revises railroad accident reporting requirements for companies operating in Montana. The bill amends current law to empower the Public Service Commission to adopt rules that set specific thresholds for when a railroad accident must be reported. This grants the Commission the authority to define the criteria for reportable incidents, rather than requiring companies to report every accident. The changes directly affect railroad companies operating in the state and the Public Service Commission.
SB 275 allows a local governing body to revoke an agricultural covenant on land that has been annexed into a municipality. This means that if agricultural land, previously exempt from subdivision review due to such a covenant, becomes part of a city or town, the covenant can be removed. Once revoked under these conditions, any subsequent division of that land can proceed without undergoing the standard subdivision review process.
SB 288 establishes guidelines for handling law enforcement weapons involved in officer-involved shootings. When such an incident occurs, the officer's weapon must be collected by investigators for forensic examination, including photography and test firing at the state laboratory. Once the investigation is complete, and provided no appeals are pending or criminal charges are filed or contemplated against the officer, the weapon must be returned to the law enforcement agency within 7 days for redeployment.
Senate Bill 113 clarifies which personal belongings inside a towed motor vehicle are exempt from towing and storage liens. The bill specifies that consumer food products and perishable goods not intended for resale are exempt. It also protects original personal identifying documents, various original records (personal, legal, business), and financial items like cash, credit cards, and checks from being subject to the lien. Additionally, child safety items and containers like wallets or purses that hold these exempt items are also excluded from the lien. This legislation aims to provide clarity for both tow truck operators and vehicle owners regarding these exemptions.
SB 315 revises laws related to the Petroleum Tank Release Compensation Board, establishing new procedures for reimbursing owners and operators of Montana petroleum facilities for preventative measures. These measures include the removal of inactive tanks, upgrades to automatic tank gauges, and replacement of older single-walled tanks and piping. Owners or operators can receive up to $2,000 per facility every 1,000 days for approved preventative actions. The bill also modifies procedures for discussing responses to petroleum releases, making meetings discretionary for releases under $100,000.
SB 310 revises and renames the existing trails and recreational facilities grant program as the "Trail Stewardship Grant Program." It directly affects cities, counties, tribal governments, school districts, recreational clubs, and state and federal agencies by expanding the types of projects eligible for funding. New eligible projects include trail-related studies, data collection, safety education, and equipment purchases and maintenance. The bill also specifies that grant funds will be apportioned for motorized, nonmotorized, and mixed-use projects, and allows for advance payments of up to 75% of awarded grant funds.
SB 488 revises consumer protection laws, impacting businesses, the Department of Justice, and individual consumers. The bill explicitly includes false or misleading consumer reviews and testimonials as unfair or deceptive practices. It establishes a 5-year statute of limitations for the Department of Justice to bring action upon discovering unlawful practices and clarifies the timeframe for individuals to file lawsuits. Additionally, it modifies rules for damages and attorney fees in individual consumer actions, including setting a cap on hourly attorney fees and limiting their award based on the amount of actual damages.
SB 341 revises laws related to the sale of recreational vehicles, boats, and powersports vehicles. It allows dealers of these specific vehicle types to conduct off-premises displays and sales in counties different from their primary business location. This is permitted if their franchise agreement includes the other county and there is no other authorized dealer for the same manufacturer's model established there. Dealers must provide prior notice to the department, and these off-premises events are limited to 10 consecutive days, with a maximum of 10 per calendar year.
SB 134, known as the "Safeguarding Endowment Gifts Act," establishes new protections for individuals and entities who make restricted donations to charitable organizations. The bill requires charitable organizations to adhere to written donor-imposed restrictions on endowment gifts. If a charitable organization violates these terms, the donor or their legal representative can file a court complaint for breach of the endowment agreement after providing 90 days' notice. Courts may order remedies consistent with the charitable purpose of the gift, but cannot order the return of donated funds to the donor.
SB 236 revises the compensation structure for county detention officers by entitling them to longevity payments. The bill ensures that county detention officers receive these payments in a manner similar to deputy sheriffs and undersheriffs. Specifically, starting from their first anniversary of employment, detention officers will receive an annual longevity payment equal to 1% of their minimum base annual salary for each year of service. This legislation also supersedes specific unfunded mandate laws concerning these provisions.
HB 357 provides state funding specifically for career and technical education (CTE) programs in middle schools, junior high schools, and 7th and 8th-grade programs. It directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to annually distribute these funds to eligible elementary and K-12 school districts. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to support these programs. The Superintendent will adopt rules to ensure equitable distribution and proper use of the funds, enhancing existing federal support without school size restrictions.
SB 208 revises the definition of "dependent child" within the retirement systems for highway patrol officers, police officers, and firefighters. For the Highway Patrol Officers' retirement system, the bill removes the requirement that a deceased member must have been "retired" for their child to be considered a dependent. This means an unmarried child under 18, or under 24 if a full-time student, of any deceased member may now qualify for benefits. The bill also updates the specific age and student status criteria for dependent children in the Police Officers' retirement system, and aims to make similar revisions for firefighters.
