HB 18 redirects all revenue from bentonite mining taxes (collected after December 31, 2014) to a dedicated "school equalization and property tax relief account" instead of previous distribution rules. Specifically, 20.75% of this tax revenue must now fund school districts and reduce local property taxes, as amended in sections 15-39-110 and 20-9-331 of Montana law. The bill directly affects mineral producers who pay the tax and school districts that receive funding through the new account. This change applies to all bentonite mining revenue collected after 2014, shifting funds from prior county and state allocations to the equalization account.
HB 16 revises Montana's infrastructure loan program and tax credit rules. It removes eligibility for businesses to qualify for loans based on increasing wages or incomes of existing employees or employers. The bill also prohibits claiming infrastructure use fees as both a tax credit and a tax deduction, preventing double benefits. These changes apply to infrastructure loans made on or after the effective date and tax credits claimed after December 31, 2025, affecting businesses receiving loans and local governments building infrastructure.
HB 77 revises Montana laws governing child abuse and neglect investigations by removing a provision that previously allowed temporary investigative authority for the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The bill repeals Section 41-3-433, MCA, which authorized this temporary authority, and amends related sections (41-3-422, 41-3-427, 41-3-432) to reflect this change. It directly affects child protective services workers, courts, and families involved in abuse/neglect cases by eliminating a specific investigative tool. The law change focuses on streamlining procedures by removing the temporary authority option, ensuring investigations follow established legal pathways. This is a procedural policy adjustment with no new funding or services added.
HB 20 requires local governments in Montana (such as counties, cities, and school districts) to state voted property tax levies in dollar amounts instead of mill rates (where 1 mill = $1 per $1,000 of property value). This change directly affects entities that seek voter approval for new or increased levies, making the financial impact clearer for residents. The bill amends Montana Code to allow these levies to be calculated using existing formulas but reported in dollars, while preserving current calculation methods for tax base adjustments. It repeals a prior requirement that levies be expressed in mills, aiming to improve voter understanding of tax costs.
HB 191 amends Montana law to create a new offense for knowingly committing domestic violence (defined as assaults under sections 45-5-202, 45-5-206, 45-5-213, or 45-5-215 against a partner or family member) while a child under 18 is present. This directly affects individuals who commit domestic violence near children, adding a separate misdemeanor charge for the child-witnessing aspect. The law specifies that "in the presence of a child" means the child is physically present or the perpetrator knows the child may see/hear the violence. A conviction carries a fine of $100-$1,000 and/or up to 1 year in jail. This amendment does not change existing domestic violence penalties but creates an additional charge specifically for incidents involving children.
HB 118 revises Montana's participation in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (Section 20-1-230, MCA). It clarifies the Compact Commission's authority to set annual assessments based on the number of military-connected students in Montana and updates references to U.S. Code. The bill directly affects military children (K-12) and their families moving between states, as well as Montana schools and education agencies. Key mechanisms include standardizing enrollment processes, ensuring seamless transfer of education records, and supporting placement without disadvantage due to frequent moves or deployments. The changes aim to remove barriers to educational continuity for military-connected students across state lines.
HB 246 standardizes how Montana determines if a license from another state meets Montana's professional licensing standards, affecting out-of-state applicants seeking to practice without retaking exams and the licensing boards or Department of Labor and Industry that make these determinations. The bill defines "substantial equivalency" as requiring that another state's education, exam, and experience requirements are comparable to or exceed Montana's, and specifies that boards or the department must assess whether an applicant's actual qualifications can address any gaps when standards are not fully equivalent. It amends multiple licensing statutes to clarify this process and removes redundant language about reciprocity and equivalency. This creates a consistent, transparent standard for recognizing out-of-state licenses across Montana's regulated professions.
HB 111 adopts the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act to standardize how Montana's legal documents are published and accessed electronically. It requires official publishers (like the Code Commissioner and Legislative Services Division) to designate electronic records as official, authenticate them to prove they haven't been altered, and ensure they are preserved securely and accessible to the public. The bill sets standards for electronic preservation, security, and public access to Montana's Constitution, statutes, and code, while aligning with federal electronic signature laws. This directly affects state agencies managing legal records and ensures public access to accurate, unaltered digital versions of Montana's laws.
HB 211 creates a new third-party delivery license for businesses to deliver beer and table wine directly to consumers, replacing previous restrictions. It requires delivery drivers to be 21+, complete training, verify recipient age via ID scanning, and follow strict packaging and transportation rules (e.g., rear vehicle storage). The law affects off-premises retailers (who must sell directly to consumers, not resell) and delivery services (who must obtain the new license and comply with safety and recordkeeping requirements). Key provisions include banning deliveries to certain locations (like college dorms), mandating 3-year record retention, and exempting tech platforms that only connect consumers to retailers without handling deliveries. The bill, signed into law in Montana on April 3, 2025, revises alcohol delivery regulations without altering sales prices or taxes.
SB 87 eliminates the state general election day as a paid holiday for legislative employees and creates an annual floating holiday for qualified legislative branch workers. It revises the definition of "holiday" in Montana law to clarify that legislative employees will receive one flexible paid day off each year (the "floating holiday") instead of observing election day. This change directly affects all legislative branch employees who meet eligibility requirements under the revised code. The bill modifies existing provisions in Montana Code Annotated sections 2-18-601 and 2-18-603 to implement these specific holiday schedule adjustments.
HB 321 updates Montana law to clarify how dental hygienists can practice under supervision, particularly expanding access in public health settings. It creates a new "public health supervision" pathway allowing hygienists to provide preventative services like cleanings, fluoride applications, sealants, and oral cancer screenings without a dentist being present - only in facilities serving underserved populations (e.g., clinics for low-income patients, schools, or homeless programs). Hygienists must now obtain a "limited access permit" from the board, and the law specifies exactly which services are permitted (e.g., removing stains, charting) and prohibited (e.g., anesthesia, dentures). The bill also defines key terms like "public health facility" and requires referrals for patients needing care outside permitted services.
HB 112 requires Montana's Code Commissioner to correct outdated references in state laws, particularly regarding reporting requirements tied to Section 5-11-210 MCA. It directs the commissioner to adjust reports in Section 5-11-222 MCA whenever related references change, are repealed, or are terminated in new legislation. This procedural bill affects state agencies that submit reports to the legislature and ensures legal references remain accurate across Montana's code. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on April 3, 2025.
