HB 144 increases Montana's Building Codes Council membership from 12 to 13 members by adding a representative from the Montana State Fire Chiefs' Association. The bill amends the council's membership structure to include this new position, alongside existing roles like architects, engineers, contractors, and building inspectors. This change directly affects the council's composition and requires the governor to appoint a fire chiefs' association representative to serve alongside other industry and public members. The law focuses on expanding stakeholder representation in building code governance without altering the council's duties or funding.
HB 53 amends Montana's public contract law to explicitly allow military personnel from the Department of Military Affairs to perform construction or improvement projects on state buildings or grounds without requiring competitive bidding. This change directly affects state military projects, removing the $150,000 bidding requirement that normally applies to such work. The bill adds a new exception to the existing law (Section 18-2-301, MCA) that previously excluded inmate labor and specific historic preservation work at Bannack but did not cover military labor. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2028, aligning with the law's inflation adjustment cycle for the bidding threshold.
HB 164 revises Montana's Unclaimed Property Act to clarify rules for businesses holding unclaimed funds or assets. It defines "payroll card" (referencing federal regulations), updates when property is considered abandoned, and allows holders to submit reports via email instead of traditional mail. The bill directly affects banks, employers, and other businesses that manage unclaimed property like unpaid wages or unused gift cards. Key changes streamline reporting for electronic transfers and ensure clearer definitions for property types like mineral proceeds. The law, now effective after Governor's signature, modernizes how unclaimed property is tracked and returned to owners.
HB 197 revises Montana's workers' compensation law to change when temporary disability payments end for injured workers. It directly affects employees receiving temporary total disability benefits who are cleared by a doctor to return to full work duties. The bill specifies that benefits must terminate on the exact date a worker is released for full duty - rather than continuing until medical treatment concludes (maximum medical improvement) - if the worker is cleared before or at that point. This change, effective immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025, streamlines benefit termination while requiring physician documentation of medical stability and job suitability before any benefit change.
HB 91 allows Montana taxpayers to choose receiving letters, notices, and other communications from the Department of Revenue electronically instead of by paper. Taxpayers must formally elect this option using a form provided by the department. The bill requires the department to create rules for implementing this electronic option and takes effect immediately upon enactment. This change directly affects all Montana taxpayers who interact with the Department of Revenue for tax matters.
HB 28 clarifies operational rules for Montana's public charter schools, directly affecting new and existing charter schools and the Board of Public Education. It specifies that timeline requirements (like proposal deadlines) count as business days, exempts approved charters from standard school opening rules, and changes first-year funding: charter schools won't receive per-pupil "per-anb" funding, and basic funding will be based on planned enrollment with potential clawbacks if actual enrollment falls short. The bill also requires the Board to report charter school status to the Office of Public Instruction and county superintendents, and mandates annual performance reports comparing charter school outcomes to traditional public schools. These changes aim to streamline the charter school approval and funding process while ensuring accountability.
HB 46 revises Montana law to allow public defenders appointed under the Montana Public Defender Act to be reassigned by the Office of State Public Defender without requiring client consent or a court order. This change specifically removes the standard "change of attorney" requirements from Section 37-61-403, MCA, which previously applied to all attorneys. The bill directly affects public defenders and their clients in criminal cases handled through Montana's public defender system, streamlining internal reassignments for efficiency. (Signed into law April 7, 2025.)
HB 106 requires all shooting preserves to be located entirely on private property, replacing prior location restrictions. It increases the annual license fee from $100 to $250 and removes limits on how many birds operators must release or harvest each year. The bill also mandates that operators report all game harvests using state-provided forms and repeals the previous requirement for quantity restrictions on game harvests (Section 87-4-523). These changes directly affect shooting preserve operators by altering land use rules, fees, and reporting obligations. The law takes immediate effect upon the governor's signature.
HB 210 revises Montana's unemployment insurance program to enhance fraud prevention and adjust employer tax rates. It requires weekly checks against prison records, new hire databases, and motor vehicle records to verify claimant eligibility (affecting both claimants and employers). The bill creates a lower tax schedule for some employers, clarifies penalties for fraudulent claims (requiring repayment plus 50% penalty), and directs 70% of penalty funds to fraud detection efforts. These changes apply directly to Montana employers paying unemployment taxes and individuals claiming benefits under the state's program. The bill became law after Governor's signature on April 7, 2025.
HB 92 revises Montana's alcohol regulations by updating key provisions affecting liquor stores, retailers, and license applicants. It clarifies that wholesalers cannot sell directly to the public (amending §16-3-233), restricts where retailers can purchase alcohol (amending §16-3-301), and requires fingerprints/background checks for license applicants and location managers (amending §16-4-414). The bill also updates the Department of Revenue's authority to manage liquor stores and enforce regulations (amending §16-1-302). These changes directly affect licensed alcohol businesses, retailers, and individuals applying for alcohol licenses in Montana.
HB 175 requires Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to publish an annual public report detailing population data for elk, deer, and antelope in hunting districts. This report must explain how the department estimated animal numbers, using methods like field observations or hunter data. The bill directly affects hunters, wildlife managers, and the public by making this population data transparent and accessible each year. It amends existing law to add this specific annual reporting requirement for these three big game species.
HB 214 allows Montana to prosecute individuals for state criminal offenses even if they are in federal immigration detention for immigration violations. It directly affects people detained under federal immigration authority who commit crimes in Montana. The bill's key provision permits state prosecutors to initiate criminal cases against these individuals and requires Montana to hold them until their state trial concludes before transferring them to federal custody. This law, signed by the governor on April 7, 2025, amends state procedures to coordinate state criminal proceedings with federal immigration processes.
