HB 183 enacts Montana's participation in the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact, allowing PAs licensed in other participating states to practice in Montana without obtaining a separate Montana license. The bill establishes a "compact privilege" requiring PAs to hold an unrestricted license in good standing from a participating state, pass criminal background checks, and comply with Montana's medical practice laws during patient encounters. It directly affects PAs seeking cross-state practice opportunities and Montana patients receiving care from out-of-state PAs, while specifically benefiting military families by enabling easier licensure for active-duty personnel and spouses. The compact also requires participating states to share disciplinary information and implement standardized background checks.
SB 75 establishes a clear process for changing the expiration dates of Montana laws that automatically terminate (sunset provisions). It allows revisions to these dates by amending the original law, resolves conflicts in the same session by adopting the latest revised date, and specifies that amendments only take effect before the original or revised expiration date. The bill applies retroactively to all relevant laws passed during the current legislative session. This affects lawmakers and legal drafters who manage sunset provisions, streamlining how expiration dates are adjusted without requiring new legislation for each change.
This bill removes the requirement for election judges to post absentee voter lists at polling locations. It amends Montana Code Annotated § 13-13-233 by deleting subsection (4), which previously mandated posting voter names from absentee ballot certificates at polling places. The change directly affects election administrators and polling staff who no longer need to publicly display these lists. The bill became law immediately upon the Governor's signature on April 3, 2025.
HB 115 revises Montana's code commissioner duties regarding the publication of the Montana Code Annotated. It clarifies key terms like "recodify" (including minor corrections to punctuation, spelling, and numbering) and defines "publication" as issuing in printed or electronic format. The bill removes requirements for the commissioner to publish certain historical documents (Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Montana Constitution, etc.) and emphasizes incremental updates to the code rather than major structural changes. The law takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature, as noted in the bill's effective date provision.
SB 172 allows Montana resort communities and areas (designated under state law with populations under 3,500 that rely heavily on tourism) to use an additional 1% resort tax - previously restricted to infrastructure - specifically for workforce housing. The bill amends tax code sections to explicitly permit this new allocation, alongside existing infrastructure uses, for communities that qualify under the defined criteria. It does not create new taxes but changes how existing resort tax revenue may be spent, directly affecting designated resort districts and communities. The policy shift aims to address housing needs for local workers in tourism-dependent areas.
SB 26 updates Montana's mileage reimbursement policy for legislators and certain public officials. It changes the law to allow these groups - such as legislators, jurors, witnesses, and county agents - to receive mileage reimbursement at the full U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rate for all miles traveled, rather than the previous tiered system. Previously, some officials received reduced rates (e.g., 48.15% of IRS rates) or lower rates after 1,000 miles; this bill eliminates those distinctions. The change applies immediately upon enactment and affects anyone using personal vehicles for official duties covered under the statute.
SB 17 changes specific timeframes for child protective services hearings in Montana after a child is emergency-removed. It shortens the deadline for an initial emergency hearing from 5 days to 5 working days and extends the show cause hearing deadline from 20 days to 21 days. This directly affects parents/guardians of children in emergency removal situations, child protection specialists, county attorneys, and the state public defender's office. The bill amends Montana Code Annotated sections 41-3-301, 41-3-307, and 41-3-432 to adjust these procedural deadlines, without altering the underlying child protection process.
SB 22 extends the timeline for holding hearings on motor carrier certificate applications from 60 to 90 days after receiving a protest or hearing request. It directly affects Class D motor carriers (and Class A/E carriers) applying for certificates, as well as the Public Service Commission handling these applications. The key change modifies Section 69-12-321, MCA, to allow more time for review before hearings occur. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 18 revises Montana's legal definition of child abuse or neglect to exclude parental inability to access public services as the sole reason for considering an act abusive or neglectful. Specifically, it clarifies that voluntarily surrendering a newborn to a hospital (within 30 days) or a parent's inability to access services due to systemic barriers does not constitute abuse or neglect. The bill also explicitly states that religious refusal of medical care for a child does not automatically qualify as abuse, though it preserves state authority to intervene if a child faces imminent serious harm. This change directly affects parents, child welfare agencies, and courts by narrowing the circumstances that trigger abuse investigations or interventions.
SB 1 revises Montana's legal definition of a "blighted area" in urban renewal law (Section 7-15-4206, MCA). It adds specific criteria to determine blight, including "deterioration of building structure components or infrastructure" and "buildings that endanger life, limb, health, property, or safety." This change directly affects municipalities using tax increment financing and urban renewal programs, as the updated definition will determine which areas qualify for redevelopment funding. The bill does not create new programs but refines the existing legal standard for identifying blighted areas.
SB 3 requires municipalities and counties using tax increment financing (TIF) to establish an advisory committee. This committee must include at least one representative from each overlapping incorporated city, county, and school district affected by the TIF district. The bill amends Montana law to mandate this requirement before adopting TIF provisions in urban renewal or economic development plans. Existing urban renewal agencies created under specific provisions are exempt from this committee requirement. The law aims to ensure local governments consider impacts on overlapping jurisdictions during TIF planning.
SB 51 requires telecommunications providers to register with Montana's Public Service Commission before offering services in the state. Providers must submit detailed information including contact details, business ownership structure, service descriptions, use of universal service funds, and any recent penalties from other jurisdictions. The Public Service Commission gains authority to create implementing rules and may waive certain registration requirements. This bill directly affects all telecommunications companies operating in Montana, mandating updated transparency and compliance standards for their registration process.
