HB 165 eliminates the requirement for notarization when transferring ownership of older or low-value vehicles in Montana. It directly affects residents transferring vehicles that are 30 years old or older, worth $1,000 or less, or specific types like campers or boats, when the original title is lost. The bill revises vehicle title procedures to allow applicants to self-certify a vehicle's value using a bill of sale instead of obtaining a notarized document, while keeping other requirements like bonds for higher-value vehicles intact. The Motor Vehicle Division can no longer mandate notarization for these affidavits.
HB 190 designates American rodeo as Montana's official state sport, effective July 1, 2025. This symbolic bill has no practical policy impact - it does not create new laws, funding, or regulations, and it does not directly affect any individuals or groups beyond formally recognizing rodeo in state identity. The legislation simply amends Montana's state symbolism to include rodeo as the official sport, following its passage and signing into law by the Governor on April 7, 2025.
HB 120 expands Montana's Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program to include multifamily housing facilities with at least five residential units. This change directly affects property owners and developers of qualifying multifamily buildings (e.g., apartment complexes), allowing them to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades through property assessments. The bill amends definitions to explicitly include these residential properties under the program, covering improvements like insulation, solar panels, and energy-efficient appliances. It maintains the existing financing mechanism where costs are repaid through property taxes over time, without requiring new debt or upfront payments from property owners. The law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025.
HB 426 clarifies Montana's rules for real estate appraisal management companies by restricting ownership by individuals or entities with a history of serious violations in appraiser licensing. It requires companies applying for registration to certify that all owners (directly or indirectly) have never had an appraiser license revoked for serious violations, and mandates that owners undergo background checks. The bill also updates application processes to align with federal requirements. This directly affects new and existing appraisal management companies seeking state registration, ensuring owners meet stricter background standards before operating.
HB 150 revises Montana's definitions and regulations for alcohol and gaming laws, primarily updating terminology to clarify existing rules. It defines key terms like "caffeinated or stimulant-enhanced malt beverage," "guest ranch," "hard cider," and "ownership interest" to improve regulatory precision. The bill directly affects alcohol producers, distributors, retailers, and gaming license holders by standardizing how these terms are applied in licensing and enforcement. It does not create new taxes or restrictions but ensures consistent interpretation of current laws across the Department of Revenue and gaming regulations. The changes aim to modernize language and resolve ambiguities in Montana's alcohol and gaming code.
HB 109 corrects typographical errors and outdated references in Montana's professional licensing laws for healthcare providers. It updates statutory citations for licensed social workers, professional counselors, addiction counselors, marriage and family therapists, and behavioral health peer support specialists in Section 28-2-724, MCA. The bill does not change existing restrictions on contracts that limit providers' ability to treat patients or practice after employment ends - those provisions remain unchanged. It solely fixes how these laws are referenced in the legal code (e.g., renumbering Section 37-23-104 to Chapter 39). This is a technical correction, not a policy change affecting providers or patients.
HB 82 creates a new criminal offense called "grooming of a child for a sexual offense," defined as using communication (in-person or electronic) to manipulate a child into sexual activity, coerce meetings, distribute explicit material, or exploit authority to build a secret relationship. The bill revises existing laws to include computer-generated child pornography in sexual abuse charges and increases penalties for crimes against children, such as mandatory 100-year prison sentences for offenders targeting children under 12. It directly affects individuals who engage in grooming or sexual exploitation of minors, requiring severe punishments including fines up to $50,000 and mandatory sex offender treatment. The law updates legal definitions to address modern tactics like online interactions while strengthening protections for children under 16.
HB 89 amends Montana's property tax law to require taxpayers to file claims for disaster-related property tax relief within 2 years of a natural disaster destroying their property. This directly affects Montana homeowners and property owners who suffer damage from events like fires, floods, or earthquakes (including fires regardless of origin, unless arson is convicted). The key provision establishes a clear deadline for filing claims, replacing the previous lack of time limit, and clarifies how tax adjustments are calculated based on the days property existed before and after the disaster. The bill takes immediate effect upon the Governor's signature, which occurred on April 7, 2025.
HB 157 revises Montana's responsible server and sales training requirements for alcohol service. It mandates two distinct training programs: one for employees at locations allowing on-premises consumption (like bars), and a shorter program (half the duration) for employees at locations only providing off-premises consumption (like liquor stores). Both programs must cover alcohol effects, ID verification, handling intoxicated patrons, and liability procedures, ending with a final test and certificate. The law, signed by the Governor on April 7, 2025, directly affects licensed alcohol businesses and their staff across Montana.
HB 49 amends Montana's marijuana regulations to specifically prohibit the manufacture and distribution of synthetic cannabinoid products, which are often dangerous imitations of marijuana. The bill updates definitions and prohibitions within the Montana Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (Sections 16-12-101 and others) to explicitly target these synthetic substances. It directly affects businesses or individuals producing or selling synthetic cannabinoid products, making such activities illegal under state law. The key mechanism is strengthening existing prohibitions by adding clear language to ban synthetic cannabinoids, closing a regulatory gap. This law took effect immediately upon the Governor's signature on April 7, 2025.
HB 249 allows businesses selling alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana to accept digital versions of government-issued IDs (like phone-based licenses) for age verification. It directly affects retailers in these industries and customers using digital IDs. The bill requires businesses to handle digital ID data strictly: they may not sell or transfer the data and must permanently delete it within 180 days after use. These rules apply to all age-restricted sales, including tobacco products under Section 16-11-305 and marijuana transactions under Section 16-12-104.
HB 37 requires Montana counties and local governments to include specific property tax amounts in their preliminary annual budget documents. It mandates that budgets detail the prior year's property tax levied on $100,000 residential property value and the estimated tax for the current year on the same value, plus similar figures for $300,000 and $600,000 home values. This change applies directly to county governments preparing their annual operating budgets and affects how they report tax impacts to residents. The bill revises existing budget filing requirements under Section 7-6-4020, MCA, to add these transparency measures.
