Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 535: Revise laws related to experimental treatments

SB 535 revises laws related to experimental treatments, primarily by requiring experimental treatment centers to obtain a license from the state department. These centers must adhere to operational standards and pay licensing fees. The bill also mandates that licensed centers allocate 2% of their net annual profits to support access to experimental treatments for qualifying Montana residents. This allocation can be fulfilled by providing free treatment or contributing to a new Insurance Premium Support Account. This account is established to help fund health insurance premiums for eligible Montana residents who purchase insurance on the federal marketplace and meet specific income criteria.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 2% profit allocation for patient access to experimental treatments, directly expanding access and funding under healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

passed both · Montana · House May 6, 2025

HJ 35: Joint resolution urging changes to federal wildfire policy

HJ 35 is a joint resolution from the Montana Legislature urging federal officials to modify current federal land management and wildfire policies. It calls for an aggressive initial attack on wildfires across all federal lands and for federal forest roads to remain open for access and fire suppression. The resolution also recommends that EPA air quality standards include wildfire smoke and that federal "let it burn" policies be reversed, ensuring NEPA processes are followed. Finally, it advocates for increased involvement of state and local governments and stakeholder groups in federal fire management decisions to protect Montana's communities.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdvocates for EPA air quality standards including wildfire smoke and reversing 'let it burn' policies to protect natural resources and reduce pollution from wildfires.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill advocates including wildfire smoke in EPA air quality standards, a public health program, strengthening air quality measures affecting health.80% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly urges federal forest roads to remain open for fire suppression access, directly supporting transportation infrastructure maintenance and access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

Track

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 447: Enact the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact

HB 447 enacts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing licensed respiratory therapists to practice in multiple member states without needing a full license in each. This aims to increase public access to respiratory therapy services and improve workforce mobility, including for military members and their spouses. The compact establishes a "compact privilege" for therapists to practice in other member states while preserving each state's regulatory authority. It also includes provisions for criminal background checks for license applicants.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly increases public access to respiratory therapy services by enabling interstate practice, improving workforce mobility for therapists, and aligning with healthcare access indicators.92% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly includes military members and spouses in workforce mobility benefits, supporting veteran family employment through interstate practice privileges.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 458: Generally revise laws related to physician assistants

HB 458 revises laws concerning physician assistants and medical malpractice claims. The bill expands the definition of "health care provider" to include physician assistants, affecting their liability in malpractice cases. It also increases the limit on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice claims, raising the initial cap from $250,000 to $300,000. This new limit will then progressively increase each year, reaching $500,000 by 2029 and adjusting annually by 2% thereafter. These changes apply to both future and existing medical malpractice claims.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands healthcare provider definition for PAs and increases malpractice damage caps, improving access and patient rights95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 476: Establish grant program for newborn safety devices

HB 476 establishes a grant program to fund the installation and maintenance of newborn safety devices. The Department of Public Health and Human Services will award competitive grants, up to $20,000 per applicant, to eligible fire departments, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies. The department is also responsible for creating rules for the application process and evaluation criteria. The bill appropriates $160,000 from the general fund for this program, which is effective July 1, 2025, and terminates on June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $160,000 from general fund for newborn safety device grants, directly funding a public service program under budget authority.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds newborn safety devices in hospitals via public health department, directly supporting infant healthcare services and public health programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Montana · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 163: Generally revise privacy laws related to biometric, genetic, and neural data

SB 163 revises Montana's Genetic Information Privacy Act by expanding its scope to include neurotechnology data. The bill extends privacy protections to information concerning an individual's central or peripheral nervous system activity, such as brain data, collected by various devices. It adds new definitions for neurotechnology and neurotechnology data, and revises provisions related to privacy notices and exceptions. The intent is to safeguard consumers' sensitive neurotechnology data, particularly when collected by non-invasive devices outside of medical settings. This aims to provide similar privacy protections for neurotechnology data as currently exist for genetic data.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands privacy protections for neurotechnology data, directly safeguarding sensitive health information under healthcare privacy standards90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands privacy protections to neural data under Montana's Genetic Information Privacy Act, explicitly safeguarding sensitive neurotechnology data per bill intent.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 218: Revising the practice of optometry to include certain laser procedures and in-office surgical procedures

HB 218 revises the practice of optometry by expanding the scope of services licensed optometrists can provide. It permits optometrists to perform certain in-office surgical procedures and laser surgical procedures, specifically limited to the anterior segment of the eye and adnexa. However, the bill explicitly excludes penetrating intraocular surgery, intravitreal injection, and refractive surgery. To perform laser surgical procedures, optometrists must be certified by the board after completing required didactic and clinical training. This act takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands optometrists' scope to include anterior eye procedures, increasing patient access to specialized eye care without requiring ophthalmologist referrals for specific services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare