HB 499 extends Montana's Grow Your Own Grant Program through 2029 (previously ending in 2027) and expands eligibility to include postsecondary institutions like universities and tribal colleges. The bill allows these institutions to receive grants to develop teacher training pathways, removes a requirement to convert student grants into loans if recipients don't teach in shortage areas, and revises credit requirements for high school students. It directly affects rural and reservation school districts facing teacher shortages, postsecondary institutions developing education programs, and students pursuing teaching careers through the program. The legislation includes a $500,000 appropriation for the 2025-2027 biennium to support these expanded grant opportunities.
This bill creates a 70-bed secure forensic facility in Montana to provide care for individuals with specific court findings (such as guilty but mentally ill or needing competency evaluations). The facility must offer psychiatric treatment, competency restoration, and security, located east of Big Timber, and will be funded through a $60 million appropriation from the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Fund. It amends existing law to allow this fund to cover construction costs for new behavioral health infrastructure, including the facility. The bill directly affects the state's behavioral health system and individuals requiring forensic mental health services.
HB 851 proposes to create a new state agency called the Department of Health Services. This new department would take over specific human services functions currently managed by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. These transferred responsibilities include the administration of developmental disabilities services, mental health services (like the Montana State Hospital), chemical dependency services, and veterans' long-term care facilities. The bill also provides an appropriation for the new department, grants it rulemaking authority, and requires its contracts to include dispute resolution clauses.
This bill revises Montana's gambling laws by expanding the definition of "internet gambling" to explicitly include online casinos, while creating an exception for online casinos that do not use traditional currency (allowing cryptocurrency transactions). It changes how fines from gambling violations are handled, directing them to the Department of Justice's budget instead of previous allocations, and updates criminal penalties to specify both misdemeanor and felony offenses. The bill directly affects online casino operators (particularly those using cryptocurrency), the Department of Justice (managing fines), and gambling enforcement agencies (applying new penalties). These changes aim to modernize regulatory definitions and enforcement mechanisms within Montana's gambling framework.
SB 324 revises vehicle registration fees for high-end vehicles, adding a 1% fee based on the vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the first year of registration after January 1, 2026, for cars over $150,000 and motorhomes over $300,000. It directly affects owners of these high-value vehicles, replacing a flat annual add-on fee with the percentage-based assessment. Revenue from these fees will fund two specific programs: grants for bridge projects through the Department of Transportation and services for crime victims via the Board of Crime Control. The bill also updates related sections of Montana law governing registration fees and special revenue accounts.
House Bill 950 sought to establish and maintain a Montana trade office in Israel, staffed by the Department of Commerce. The office's primary goal was to promote trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Montana and Israel. It aimed to strengthen ties and expand opportunities in areas such as agriculture, technology, security, and educational programs. The bill proposed appropriating $500,000 from the general fund for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, to fund the office. This act was intended to be effective July 1, 2025, and terminate on June 30, 2033.
HB 847 proposed to provide funding for grizzly bear management in Montana. The bill aimed to appropriate $210,000 annually from the general license account to the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) for the biennium starting July 1, 2025. This funding was specifically designated to create and support two new full-time bear technician positions within FWP Region 3, located in Southwest Montana. These technicians would assist in managing human-wildlife interactions and conflicts as grizzly bear populations expand in the region. The legislature intended for this appropriation to become part of FWP's ongoing base funding.
SB 547 revises Montana's disabled parking permit rules to add eligibility for pregnant women. It allows pregnant individuals certified by a physician, certified midwife, or nurse to receive a temporary disability parking permit valid for up to one year. The bill also establishes a $10 fee for this permit, with the collected funds deposited into the state general fund. These changes specifically affect pregnant residents needing short-term parking accommodations due to medical conditions, while maintaining existing eligibility criteria for other disabilities.
HB 832 creates a Montana state grant program to fund training for healthcare providers in nonmedication therapies for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, awards grants to entities developing 2-year projects that train licensed providers (including Veterans Affairs-certified professionals) in these therapies, develop treatment protocols, and engage in community planning. It appropriates $600,000 from the state general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium as a one-time allocation, requiring grantees to report outcomes like providers trained, patients served, and treatment impact by 2026. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 146 establishes new hunting license fees for sandhill cranes and swans in Montana. It adds $10 for resident and $50 for nonresident application fees for these species, plus $10 resident/$75 nonresident licenses for cranes and swans (requiring also a $5.50 migratory game bird license). All fees collected for these licenses and applications will fund Montana's wetland conservation efforts through the state special revenue account. The law takes effect March 1, 2026, after being signed by the Governor on April 7, 2025.
