House Bill 232 aimed to revise laws concerning homeowners' associations (HOAs) and their members. It required HOAs to produce and distribute annual budget reports, detailing estimated revenue and expenses for the upcoming fiscal year, and annual financial reports, summarizing the prior year's finances. The bill also set rules for increasing HOA fees, allowing increases only once annually. Increases up to 15% would need approval from a majority of property owners, while increases over 15% would require approval from two-thirds of property owners.
HB 951 proposed a one-time transfer of $30 million from the state's general fund to the local road and bridge account. This action would have directed the state treasurer to complete the transfer by July 15, 2025. The funds were intended to support local road and bridge projects throughout the state, benefiting communities and their infrastructure.
HB 362 seeks to revise the Unit Ownership Act, which governs properties with shared common elements like condominiums. This bill directly affects unit owners by changing the required agreement threshold for altering their percentage of undivided interest in these common elements. Currently, all unit owners must agree to such changes. HB 362 proposes to lower this requirement, allowing changes to be made if 75% of unit owners agree and record an amendment.
HB 472 revises how the state manages money received from legal settlements. It generally requires that funds obtained from claims or litigation on behalf of the state or its citizens, after covering attorney fees and costs, be deposited into the state's general fund. The bill includes exceptions for specific funds like victim restitution, natural resource damages for restoration, and existing tobacco settlement money. It also grants the Governor authority to approve alternative uses for settlement funds, requiring a report to the legislative finance committee if this authority is utilized.
HB 914 proposes to revise the allocation of state lodging facility use taxes. It establishes two new state special revenue accounts: one for county roads and infrastructure and another for municipal roads and infrastructure. A portion of the lodging tax proceeds would be transferred to these accounts and statutorily appropriated for annual distribution to local governments. Funds would be distributed to counties based on the amount of tax collected, with minimum and maximum caps, and to cities and towns primarily based on population, also with a maximum cap. These funds are designated for the construction, maintenance, and repair of local roads and other infrastructure, as well as marketing projects.
House Bill 814 aimed to reorganize elementary and high school districts into K-12 school districts across the state. It intended for these K-12 districts to be formed within existing high school district boundaries by July 1, 2029. The bill mandated county superintendents to collaborate with school district officials to develop a reorganization plan for their county. These plans, which included existing district details, enrollment data, and financial concerns, were to be reported to the education interim committee by March 1, 2026, for review and potential legislative recommendations.
HB 407, the "Kratom Consumer Protection Act," aimed to regulate the sale and manufacturing of kratom products in the state, directly affecting consumers and businesses involved in their distribution. The bill proposed limitations on kratom products, including caps on certain alkaloid levels, prohibitions against dangerous additives or synthesized materials, and a ban on products designed to be attractive to children. It would have required annual registration for kratom products, mandating certifications for good manufacturing practices and independent third-party lab testing for safety and content. The Department of Revenue was designated to enforce these provisions and publish a list of registered products.
HB 315 sought to revise alcohol laws related to restaurant beer and wine licenses. It proposed increasing the minimum percentage of a restaurant's gross income required to come from food sales, from 65% to 70%, for those holding or applying for these licenses. The bill also aimed to allow restaurants to serve beer and wine to patrons regardless of whether they ordered food, a change from the current requirement. Additionally, it would have given licensees discretion over their operating hours, requiring only notice to the department for any changes.
HB 689 aimed to increase pricing transparency for hospitals. It required hospitals to publish a comprehensive list of all their standard charges for medical items and services, including gross charges, negotiated rates with third-party payors, and discounted cash prices. This information was to be made available on hospital websites in both machine-readable and consumer-friendly formats. The bill also included provisions for reporting to state departments, prohibiting debt collection by non-compliant hospitals, and allowing for enforcement actions.
HB 828, known as the "Powered Wheelchair Right to Repair Act," sought to revise consumer rights laws related to powered wheelchair repairs. The bill would have required original equipment manufacturers to provide powered wheelchair owners and independent repair businesses with access to documentation, parts, and tools needed for diagnosis, maintenance, and repair. These resources were to be made available on fair and reasonable terms, including free electronic documentation and tools, and parts at costs equivalent to those offered to authorized repair providers. Additionally, manufacturers would have been required to provide tools to access and reset electronic security locks for repair purposes. Violations of these provisions would have been considered an unlawful practice under state consumer protection laws.
HB 835 proposes to extend the at-home infant care program, which provides financial assistance to low-income families where a parent cares for their infant full-time. The bill would increase the eligible age of infants from under 2 years to under 3 years, and extend the maximum duration a family can receive assistance from 24 months to 36 months. It also includes an appropriation of $2 million annually from the general fund to the department of public health and human services to support the program. This legislation aims to provide extended financial support for eligible low-income families choosing at-home infant care.
HB 795 proposed to expand Montana's criminal record expungement laws to include certain nonviolent felony offenses. It would have allowed individuals convicted of these offenses to petition a district court to have related arrest, investigation, and court records sealed or destroyed. To be eligible, a person would generally need to complete their sentence and remain conviction-free for 10 years, compared to 5 years for misdemeanors. The bill also specified certain offenses, like assault or DUI, for which expungement would not be presumed, and outlined factors for the court to consider. If granted, an order would direct relevant agencies to permanently seal or expunge the records.
