Senate Bill 64 clarifies how legislators are compensated and reimbursed for expenses when the legislature is not in session. It establishes new guidelines for their salary, meal allowances, mileage, and lodging costs when they are engaged in authorized legislative business, such as committee meetings. The bill differentiates between remote participation and in-person attendance, with in-person compensation and expenses tiered based on the round-trip distance a legislator travels from their residence to the meeting location. It also outlines additional compensation for consecutive days of legislative business and specifies that legislators are not compensated for extended stays due to non-legislative activities.
SB 256 revises laws concerning the access and confidentiality of child abuse and neglect investigation records. The bill expands the exceptions to confidentiality, allowing a broader range of individuals and entities to access these records under specific conditions. This includes courts, authorized agencies, health professionals, certain family members, foster and adoptive parents, and for purposes like research or background screenings. It also revises discovery procedures in abuse and neglect proceedings and provides for record access in child custody cases.
SB 249 revises Montana's child abuse and neglect laws, specifically impacting the court's adjudication process. It requires courts to hear additional evidence from individuals who have been caring for a child, beyond just the child's parents. This evidence will detail the extent and continuity of care provided by these individuals and the circumstances surrounding the child's placement with them. The aim is to provide courts with more comprehensive information when determining if a child is a youth in need of care, particularly when child abandonment is alleged.
SB 33 transfers the authority for building code review, permitting, inspection, and enforcement for public buildings owned or operated by state government entities. These responsibilities, previously held by counties, cities, and towns, will now be managed by the Department of Labor and Industry. The bill amends existing law to establish this change, centralizing the oversight of state building codes under a state-level department. This directly affects state agencies and the regulatory process for their construction projects.
SB 29 allows state and other governmental entities to accept electronic bid bonds for building or construction projects. This bill amends existing law to permit the electronic submission of these bonds, which are typically required as security when contractors submit bids. It directly affects contractors bidding on state projects and the governmental bodies that manage these bids, by providing an electronic alternative to physical bid security.
SB 261 revises the existing law concerning endangering the welfare of children. It expands the definition of this offense to include knowingly exposing a child to marijuana or dangerous drugs. The bill also makes it an offense to assist a child in entering an adult-use dispensary or a place where human trafficking or the production of dangerous drugs is taking place. Additionally, it updates sections related to drug manufacturing and exposure in the presence of children to apply to a broader range of dangerous drugs instead of specifically methamphetamine.
SB 104 expands access to low-cost capital for public-benefit facilities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Montana. The bill increases the bond issuance cap for the Montana Facility Finance Authority to $1.5 billion and includes a biennial adjustment for inflation. It also amends definitions within existing law to specifically include 501(c)(3) entities as eligible for project financing through the Authority. This allows these organizations to secure funding for various projects, such as those related to family services, higher education, and other community benefits.
Senate Bill 34 revises laws related to K-12 school districts, primarily affecting how these unified districts manage their finances and transitions. It removes obsolete language concerning tuition calculations for K-12 districts. The bill clarifies how various funding components, such as basic county tax and guaranteed tax base aid, are calculated separately for elementary and high school programs within these districts. Additionally, it specifies that the previous year's general fund budgets of the elementary and high school districts are combined to determine the budget limitation for a newly formed K-12 school district.
SB 361 revises Montana law regarding health insurance claims submitted by the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). It prevents health insurance issuers and other entities responsible for claim payments from denying DPHHS claims solely based on the date of submission, claim format, lack of prior authorization, or failure to present proper documentation at the point of sale. This applies if DPHHS submits the claim within three years of the service date and takes enforcement action within six years of submission. The bill clarifies that it does not require payment for services not covered under a health plan or impose new financial liabilities beyond existing agreements.
HB 278 requires peace officers, during a lawful investigative stop, to make a reasonable attempt to determine a person's immigration status, unless it is impractical or would hinder an investigation. If the officer determines the person is not lawfully present in the United States, the bill mandates that this information be reported to a federal immigration agency. This affects peace officers by adding new duties during stops and impacts individuals who are lawfully stopped, as their immigration status may now be checked and reported.
HB 434 clarifies that interactive teller machines (ITMs) do not count as physical bank branches under Montana law. The bill defines an "interactive teller machine" as an unstaffed, automated facility where customers can independently perform core banking transactions or connect remotely with bank staff. This change specifically amends Montana Code sections 32-1-109 and 32-6-103 to exclude ITMs from the definition of "branch," directly affecting banks operating these machines and the Division of Banking that regulates them. The law, signed by the governor on April 7, 2025, provides regulatory certainty for banks using ITMs without requiring additional physical branches.
HB 257 updates Montana's critical infrastructure protection laws by explicitly adding broadband and wireless communications infrastructure (including internet cables, cell towers, and related equipment) to the list of protected facilities. The bill expands definitions in Section 82-1-601 to include these networks under "critical infrastructure facility," while Section 82-1-602 clarifies criminal penalties for trespassing or damaging such facilities. Trespassing with intent to harm these newly protected facilities now carries felony charges (up to 18 months in prison or $4,500 fines), and damage exceeding $1,500 becomes a felony (up to 30 years in prison or $150,000 fines). This law directly affects anyone entering or damaging internet, phone, or cable infrastructure sites, with stricter penalties for intentional harm.
