SB 71 amends previous laws (Chapter 137, Laws of 2021, and Chapter 573, Laws of 2023) concerning the funding policies for natural resource operations. The bill specifies that the termination date for these policies, which govern transfers to the natural resources operations state special revenue account, is June 30, 202
HB 759 revises campaign finance laws by establishing new rules for contributions from certain business entities. The bill allows only limited liability companies (LLCs) and partnerships taxed as partnerships for federal tax purposes to contribute to political candidates. Contributions from these entities must be reported under the name of the individual member or partner making the contribution. Furthermore, that specific member or partner is then prohibited from making a separate individual contribution to the same candidate.
HB 752 prohibits content providers from making child sexual abuse material reasonably accessible or profiting from it in Montana. This directly affects websites and software applications that distribute content, as well as victims of such material. The bill requires content providers who manage a substantial amount of sexually explicit visual content to remove identified material within 48 hours to avoid liability. Victims, the Department of Justice, or private individuals can bring legal actions against violating content providers. Remedies include injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, and significant statutory damages, with specific allocations for victims and the Department of Justice.
This bill revises and expands supplemental employer contributions to several state retirement systems, directly impacting state and local government employers and the retirement funds for their employees. For the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), it extends the schedule of increasing supplemental employer contributions through fiscal year 2035 and then sets a higher rate. Additionally, the bill introduces new supplemental employer contribution rates for the Highway Patrol Officers' Retirement System, the Sheriffs' Retirement System, and the Game Wardens' and Peace Officers' Retirement System. These new contributions are intended to help address unfunded liabilities and cover the normal cost of benefits for these specific systems.
HB 767 revises county predator control laws to include goats. It authorizes county commissioners to establish predatory animal control programs specifically for the protection of goats, often based on recommendations or petitions from local goat producers. To fund these programs, commissioners can impose a per capita license fee on goats aged one year or older. The collected fees and proceeds from selling skins of predatory animals are deposited into a dedicated predatory animal control fund for goats.
HB 668 revises alcohol laws to prohibit certain licensees from offering gambling. The bill specifies that all-beverages licenses and beer and wine licenses issued to military clubs, veterans' organizations, and recognized national fraternal organizations after the bill's effective date will no longer be eligible to offer gambling activities. This means that these particular types of organizations, if granted a new alcohol license in the future, cannot also operate gambling on their premises. The change applies to newly issued licenses of these specific categories.
HB 718 establishes an Office of Reentry Services within the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. This office is tasked with coordinating supportive services for individuals preparing to exit or exiting incarceration and reentering communities. Its purpose is to facilitate access to programs like job training, job placement, education, housing assistance, transportation, food security, and behavioral health services. The office will collaborate with various state agencies, companies, and stakeholder organizations to achieve these goals. It also requires the department to submit regular reports to legislative committees detailing the services provided, their cost, and the number of individuals served.
SB 7 revised the retirement eligibility criteria for members of the Highway Patrol Officers' Retirement System (HPORS) and the Sheriffs' Retirement System (SRS). It removed the requirement for members hired on or after July 1, 2023, to reach age 50 in addition to completing 20 years of service to be eligible for retirement benefits. This change would allow all members, regardless of hire date, to qualify for service retirement after 20 years of membership service. The bill was intended to apply retroactively to those hired on or after July 1, 2023, and take immediate effect.
SB 25 regulates the use of artificial intelligence (AI) generated content, specifically "deepfakes," in election communications within Montana. It prohibits individuals, political entities, and corporations from distributing deepfakes of candidates or political parties in election communications within 60 days before an election. This prohibition applies unless the communication includes a clear disclosure stating that the content has been significantly edited by AI and depicts false speech or conduct. The bill outlines specific formatting requirements for this disclosure across various media, including print, television, and internet communications. It also provides for injunctive relief, damages, and penalties for violations.
SB 39 revises the process for awarding attorney fees in civil lawsuits, especially those challenging a state statute or administrative rule. It requires that all attorney fee awards must be reasonable and sets specific requirements for how attorneys must document their work and expenses when requesting fees. The bill also establishes a rebuttable presumption that certain practices, like sending multiple attorneys to a deposition or charging for basic office costs, are unreasonable. Additionally, when attorney fees are awarded against the state, courts must consider the hourly rate charged by the state's attorney.
HB 735 generally revises Montana's alcohol license laws. The bill updates and adds various definitions related to alcohol production, sales, and the types of business entities involved in the alcohol industry. A key provision introduces a requirement for applicants of certain alcohol licenses to submit fingerprints. These changes directly affect licensed entities, individuals applying for alcohol licenses, and various business structures operating within the state's alcohol industry. The bill also includes an immediate effective date.
SB 181 generally revises Montana's Indian Education for All laws to strengthen the state's commitment to preserving American Indian cultural integrity. The bill requires all certified school personnel and students to receive instruction in American Indian studies, emphasizing tribal consultation and the use of Indian language and cultural specialists. It places additional accountability and reporting requirements on the Board of Public Education, the Office of Public Instruction, and school districts, particularly regarding the financial oversight of state funds for these programs. This legislation aims to improve the delivery and accountability of American Indian education across Montana's public education system.
