SB 321 proposes three tax credits to support Montana families and child-care providers. It would provide a $1,200 annual credit per child under age 5 for eligible residents (with income limits of $40,000 single/$80,000 married filing jointly), a $1,000 credit for child-care workers employed at least 6 months (20+ hours weekly), and a $2,500 employer credit for businesses offering dependent care assistance. All credits adjust annually for inflation and require filing a Montana tax return. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate-income families, child-care workers, and employers who provide on-site or subsidized care. (Note: The bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and did not become law.)
SB 345 would change how medical evidence is evaluated in Montana workers' compensation cases. It removes automatic preference for treating physicians' opinions, requiring courts to weigh medical testimony based on the provider's qualifications, experience with the specific worker, and credibility. The bill also limits discovery about independent medical examiners (IMEs) to their training, exam volume, and payments from insurers, aiming to reduce bias concerns. These changes directly affect workers seeking compensation, insurers requesting medical evaluations, and medical providers involved in these cases. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee before becoming law.
HB 805 aims to revise existing workers' compensation laws. The bill would make individuals who are unlawfully employed aliens ineligible to receive workers' compensation benefits. Additionally, it mandates that an insurer must close a workers' compensation claim if the claimant leaves the United States or certain territories while their claim is active. These changes directly affect individuals applying for workers' compensation and the insurers responsible for processing claims.
HB 273, the "Montana Medical Debt Patient Protection Act," aimed to limit how health care providers and third-party collectors pursue medical debt from patients in Montana. The bill would have prohibited certain collection actions, including wage garnishment, placing liens on a patient's primary residence, and reporting adverse information to credit agencies. It also mandated a 180-day waiting period after the first bill before "extraordinary collection actions," such as filing lawsuits or selling debt, could begin, along with requiring a 30-day notice to the patient. Additionally, it sought to provide patients with an opportunity to appeal insurance decisions before a bill went to collections.
HB 635 proposes to prohibit state and local government agencies from funding, establishing, or supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. It would prevent these agencies from requiring employees to participate in DEI programs or spending public funds on related services or staff. The bill defines DEI programs as activities that focus on describing power structures, methods to dismantle them, or advancing theories like implicit bias or systemic oppression. However, it includes exceptions for complying with federal law, specific state human rights laws, court orders, and offering sexual harassment training. This legislation directly affects state and local government agencies and their employees in Montana.
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.
HB 197 revises Montana's workers' compensation law to change when temporary disability payments end for injured workers. It directly affects employees receiving temporary total disability benefits who are cleared by a doctor to return to full work duties. The bill specifies that benefits must terminate on the exact date a worker is released for full duty - rather than continuing until medical treatment concludes (maximum medical improvement) - if the worker is cleared before or at that point. This change, effective immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025, streamlines benefit termination while requiring physician documentation of medical stability and job suitability before any benefit change.
This bill makes Montana's community health aide program permanent by removing its previously scheduled expiration date. It directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services to apply for Medicaid coverage for services provided by certified community health aides. The change directly affects community health aides and their patients, particularly in rural and tribal communities, ensuring continued access to essential healthcare services without future legislative renewal.
HB 13 revises pay and benefits for all Montana state employees, including a $1.00 hourly or 2.5% base salary increase (whichever is greater) effective July 1, 2025, plus one-time lump-sum payments based on work hours: $1,040 for full-time employees, $780 for 20-40 hours/week, and $520 for under 20 hours/week. It also adjusts per diem rates for travel, increasing daily meal allowances to $8.25 (breakfast), $9.25 (lunch), and $16.00 (dinner) for in-state travel. The bill applies broadly to all state employees and was enacted into law on March 27, 2025.
