This bill creates a $10 million grant program to help Montana child care facilities and school districts build or expand early childhood education centers. It provides one-time funding for construction, renovation, equipment, and facility upgrades, requiring grantees to match grant funds with private contributions (at least $1 for every $1 received). The program prioritizes rural areas and locations with high unmet child care demand, as highlighted in the bill’s context. Grants are limited to capital expenses and must align with safety standards, with administrative costs capped at 20% of the total appropriation.
Montana's LC 1915 creates a legal framework for regulated sports wagering, allowing both fantasy sports contests (with specific skill-based rules) and online sports betting through licensed operators. The bill establishes licensing requirements for operators, defines key terms like "online sports wagering account" and approved payment methods (including digital wallets and credit cards), and bans wagers on events with mostly under-18 athletes. It mandates that revenue from online sports wagering must be distributed to the state, with specific rules for handling funds and prohibiting certain wager types. This legislation directly affects Montana residents who can legally place bets, licensed sports wagering operators, and the state government through new revenue streams.
HB 511 creates a $5 million grant program to fund firefighting training facility projects for local fire departments in Montana. The bill provides grants for building, upgrading, or repairing training facilities and purchasing equipment, with limits of $250,000 per project and $500,000 per county. Applicants must provide a 1% cash or service match for grants over $25,000 and follow safety standards, while the Department of Military Affairs administers the program. Funding is authorized for the 2025-2029 biennium and expires June 30, 2031.
HB 861 allocates $1.1 million annually to Montana's Office of Public Instruction and $750,000 to the Department of Labor and Industry for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funds will provide statewide access to a K-12 digital toolkit containing state standards-aligned instructional materials across all subjects, including career and technical education resources aligned with Montana industry needs. This bill directly affects Montana public schools and students by expanding access to digital learning tools. It establishes a permanent funding base for these resources, effective July 1, 2025, though it was vetoed and not enacted.
SB 326 revises Montana's MEDIA Act film tax credits, extending them through 2045 and increasing the aggregate credit limit. The bill provides additional tax credits for production companies that hire veterans and enrolled tribal members. It establishes a fee for unused allocated credits, with these funds directed to a new film industry workforce training account to support workforce development. These changes aim to expand job opportunities and encourage investment in Montana's media manufacturing sector.
This bill requires hunters and anglers who lease land for hunting or fishing to pay a 10% surcharge on their annual lease payment when purchasing a Montana conservation license. The surcharge revenue must fund the state's block management program, which supports wildlife habitat conservation. Applicants must disclose lease details - including annual payment amount, duration, and partnership structure - during license application. Failure to provide this information may result in a five-year suspension of hunting and fishing privileges.
This bill creates a $6 million Sawmill Revitalization Special Revenue Account, funded by a transfer from the Big Sky Economic Development Fund. The Board of Investments will provide low-interest loans (max 3%) to businesses seeking to reopen closed sawmills, prioritizing those closed within the 12 months before January 1, 2025, followed by those closed 12-36 months prior. The funds are available for fiscal year 2026, with unspent money reverting to the Big Sky Fund. The program expires December 30, 2026.
This bill (LC 706) establishes a regulatory framework for online fantasy sports contests in Montana. It requires operators to obtain a license from the Department of Justice, pay fees, and report financial data, while defining "fantasy sports contests" as skill-based games (not luck-based) where prizes are determined by player knowledge of athlete statistics. The law creates a tax on "internet fantasy sports contest adjusted revenues" and grants the Department of Justice authority to regulate operators, investigate violations, and impose penalties. It directly affects fantasy sports service providers seeking to operate legally in Montana and players aged 18+ participating in these contests.
LC 2774 was a draft bill proposing to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for healthcare providers. It was assigned to a drafter in December 2024 but died in the legislative process without further action, as noted in its "Draft Died in Process" status on May 27, 2025. The bill did not advance to committee or floor votes, so no policy changes were implemented. It would have directly affected Medicaid-participating healthcare providers by potentially increasing their payments. Since the bill never became law, no concrete policy changes were enacted.
HB 182 creates a $5 million state grant program to fund capital projects, maintenance, repairs, and equipment for nonprofit senior citizen centers in Montana. The program directly affects nonprofit organizations serving residents aged 60+ who operate centers providing meals, education, or recreation (excluding housing facilities). Grants require a 1:1 matching contribution for projects over $25,000, with a maximum $250,000 per project and $350,000 total per county (capping two projects per county). Funding is appropriated from the general fund starting July 2025 and will expire June 30, 2031.
