HB 80 modifies Montana's agricultural land leasing rules to require competitive bidding for state-owned farmland to be conducted exclusively in cash payments (dollars per acre), rather than crop-share arrangements. It directly affects farmers and ranchers bidding for state agricultural leases by mandating that all competitive bids must specify a cash rental rate, with minimum annual payments set at $15 per acre for renewal leases. The bill changes the process so that successful bidders pay a fixed cash rent instead of sharing crop yields, while allowing leases to renew after 10 years on a crop-share basis. This policy shift simplifies lease terms for the state but requires bidders to submit cash-based offers rather than percentage-based crop share bids.
HB 66 requires Montana to adopt the most recent federal military laws, regulations, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) as of October 1, 2025, for governing the Montana National Guard. It directly affects all Montana National Guard members serving in state roles (such as active duty guard/reserve personnel under Title 32 of U.S. Code), replacing previous state-specific rules with federal standards. The bill updates Montana law to align with current federal military governance, applying to events and proceedings starting October 1, 2025. This change ensures Montana National Guard operations comply with federal military codes without altering state constitutional or legal authority.
HB 43 revises Montana's motor vehicle traffic laws to improve clarity and consistency. It specifically defines "paved shoulder" to allow bicyclists to operate on shoulders (not just paved roads), updates rules for yielding to emergency vehicles, and clarifies when passing school buses is permitted. The bill also reorganizes traffic definitions and amends parking permit rules to better protect accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities. These changes directly affect drivers, cyclists, and emergency responders by standardizing road usage and accessibility requirements. The bill was signed into law by Montana's Governor on March 27, 2025.
HB 431 amends Montana law to allow the Speaker of the House to appoint a person to fill anticipated vacancies on the Judicial Standards Commission, streamlining the process for when a commissioner's term is ending. The bill requires the Speaker to notify district court judges, who then provide a list of willing judges to the legislative nomination panel. The panel must recommend at least three qualified names to the Speaker, who selects the final appointee. This change takes immediate effect upon approval and directly affects the Speaker of the House, the Judicial Standards Commission, and district court judges who may be considered for appointments.
This bill increases fines for illegally parking in disability spaces: $150-$250 for a first offense and $250-$500 for repeat violations. It allows drivers to avoid fines by showing a valid disability permit within 3 business days of the violation. The bill also makes it a misdemeanor to provide false information to obtain a disability permit or assist unqualified individuals, punishable by fines of at least $300 or up to 10 hours of community service focused on disability access. It directly affects permit holders, those who misuse permits, and law enforcement enforcing these rules.
HB 75 revises Montana's public safety officer certification standards by requiring appointing authorities (like police departments) to ensure officers complete minimum training within one year of hire. It clarifies that officers must take discipline-specific basic courses if no equivalent course exists, and provides exceptions for military duty (pausing the deadline during service) or valid reasons like illness or course access issues. The bill allows up to 180 days for training extensions, considering factors such as family emergencies or staffing shortages. These changes apply broadly to all public safety officers, including those in specialized roles, and aim to standardize certification requirements across disciplines.
HB 195 revises Montana’s cap on non-monetary damages (like pain, suffering, and emotional distress) in medical malpractice cases. It immediately raises the limit from $250,000 to $300,000, with scheduled annual increases: $350,000 in 2026, $400,000 in 2027, $450,000 in 2028, $500,000 in 2029, and 2% annual increases thereafter. The cap applies per patient per incident and is determined by the date the claim was first filed (with the medical panel or in court), not the trial date. This directly affects patients filing medical malpractice claims and healthcare providers defending such cases.
HB 72 removes a 15-day limit on higher pay for Montana's enlisted militia members serving on State Active Duty (SAD). Currently, these members receive double federal pay rates for only the first 15 days of service; this bill extends that higher pay rate for the entire duration of their active duty. The change directly affects enlisted personnel in the Montana National Guard and militia who serve under state orders for emergencies or disasters. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor’s approval, as shown by its recent signing on March 27, 2025.
HB 63 extends Montana's Bond Validating Act to cover bonds issued before March 16, 2023. This change directly affects bondholders and entities that issued bonds prior to that date, ensuring those bonds remain valid under state law. The bill amends Montana Code Annotated 17-5-205 to explicitly include bonds issued before March 16, 2023, within the Act's scope. It takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature, as noted in the recent legislative actions.
HB 13 revises pay and benefits for all Montana state employees, including a $1.00 hourly or 2.5% base salary increase (whichever is greater) effective July 1, 2025, plus one-time lump-sum payments based on work hours: $1,040 for full-time employees, $780 for 20-40 hours/week, and $520 for under 20 hours/week. It also adjusts per diem rates for travel, increasing daily meal allowances to $8.25 (breakfast), $9.25 (lunch), and $16.00 (dinner) for in-state travel. The bill applies broadly to all state employees and was enacted into law on March 27, 2025.
HB 44 increases penalties for tampering with evidence in homicide investigations. It raises the maximum penalty for tampering that affects a medical examiner’s ability to determine a cause of death from 10 years to 40 years in prison, or a $100,000 fine (up from $50,000). The bill specifically targets individuals who alter, destroy, or fabricate evidence to mislead homicide investigations. This directly affects people who interfere with physical evidence in cases involving death, such as by destroying a weapon or falsifying autopsy records. The law amends Montana’s existing evidence tampering statute to strengthen consequences for crimes impacting homicide resolution.
HB 54 removes a requirement that the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) must counter-sign warrants for payments from Montana's Unemployment Trust Fund. This change directly affects the DLI's payment processing workflow, streamlining how unemployment benefit payments are authorized. The bill repeals Section 39-51-405 (which mandated the signature) and amends Section 39-51-406 to reflect this removal, with immediate effect upon enactment.
