Criminal Justice (Victims' Rights)

This bill establishes a work time credit system for probationers and parolees in Montana, allowing them to reduce their supervision period by earning one day of credit for every 40 hours of eligible employment completed. To qualify for this credit, individuals must comply with all court or board conditions and stay current on restitution payments and supervisory fees, while submitting proof of employment within five business days after completing 30 days of work. The supervising officer must verify employment through documentation and other methods, and any awarded credit must be revoked if the individual violates conditions, is charged with a new felony, or is charged with a misdemeanor that could result in more than six months of incarceration. The program excludes those on misdemeanor-only probation, those under lifetime supervision, registered sex or violent offenders, and youth court participants.

SB 101 creates new offenses for "unlawful squatting" (entering and staying on property without owner consent) and "fraudulent sale or lease" (advertising property for sale/rent without legal rights). Property owners gain clearer authority to request law enforcement removal of unauthorized occupants, with officers allowed to charge a service fee. Occupants convicted of unlawful squatting face misdemeanor penalties and must pay restitution equal to fair market rent for their stay. The bill also establishes a civil remedy for wrongful removal claims, allowing affected individuals to seek damages and attorney fees.

SB 300 provides new legal protections for service animals and their handlers. The bill establishes specific offenses for harassing, harming, or taking unauthorized control of a service animal. Individuals convicted of these offenses face misdemeanor penalties and are required to pay full restitution for all related damages and expenses incurred by the handler. Additionally, it amends existing state laws to include service animals in definitions related to vicious dogs and owner liability for dog bites.

This bill (LC 3188) was never enacted, as it died in the drafting process on May 27, 2025. The title indicates it aimed to revise legal protections for domestic abuse survivors, but no specific provisions or mechanisms were developed or introduced for public review. Since the bill did not advance beyond the drafting stage, no concrete policy changes were proposed or implemented. Therefore, no summary of its effects or key provisions can be provided.

HB 93 sought to establish a system for compensating individuals who were wrongly convicted of felony crimes and later exonerated. It would allow eligible claimants, defined as those imprisoned for felonies they did not commit, to file a civil action against the state or county of conviction. To receive compensation, claimants would need to prove their actual innocence by a preponderance of the evidence and waive other legal remedies against the state. The bill also provided for a $5,000 transition assistance grant, expungement of the conviction, and outlined how damages and legal costs would be paid, excluding compensation for crimes that are now legal.

SB 312 removes time limits for victims to file lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse in Montana. It allows victims to sue until age 27 or within 3 years of discovering the abuse, whichever comes later. The bill also creates new pathways to revive expired claims if the abuser admitted guilt (in writing, court, or plea) or if an organization knew about past abuse by its staff but failed to act. This directly affects survivors of childhood sexual abuse and entities like schools or religious groups that may have neglected to prevent abuse.