Labor & Employment

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 779: Revise discrimination laws

HB 779 aimed to revise discrimination laws by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of "antisemitism." It would have required the Department of Labor and Industry to consider this definition when reviewing discrimination complaints. Additionally, the bill proposed that this definition be considered for sentence enhancement in cases where offenses are committed due to a victim's race, religion, or national origin. It also would have explicitly recognized antisemitism, as defined by the IHRA, as a form of discrimination under the state's civil rights laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill requires Department of Labor to use IHRA definition in discrimination complaint reviews, strengthening protections against religious discrimination in workplace contexts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 360: Establish the child care workforce recruitment and retention support payment program

HB 360 proposed establishing the Child Care Workforce Recruitment and Retention Support Payment Program, administered by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. This program would have provided monthly payments to eligible child-care facilities, including licensed day-care centers and registered family or group day-care homes, based on their number of child-care workers. The funds were intended to help these facilities recruit and retain qualified child-care workers. Day-care centers and group homes could use the money for personnel costs like wage supplements and bonuses, while family day-care homes also had options for facility costs, equipment, professional development, and mental health support for children. The bill included an appropriation of $59.9 million annually from the general fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via monthly payments to child-care facilities under appropriations program, directly funding workforce retention efforts.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds child-care facilities to recruit/retain workers, directly supporting labor workforce stability in this sector per bill's intent and Labor & Employment subject classification.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 373: Revise lottery proceeds laws to dedicate to education funding

HB 373 aimed to revise the allocation of excess state lottery revenue, dedicating it to education funding instead of the state general fund. The Office of Public Instruction would distribute these funds quarterly to school districts based on a per-quality-educator formula. Districts would deposit these funds into their school flexibility funds, which could be used for various expenditures, including teacher salaries, benefits, housing, technology enhancements, and facility improvements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing lottery revenue to education funding, increasing public service allocation without new taxes or tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill redirects lottery revenue to education funding, earmarked for teacher salaries, benefits, and infrastructure - directly increases school funding allocation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill dedicates lottery funds for teacher salaries, benefits, and workplace improvements per school district formula, directly funding labor-related employment costs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 452: Generally revise penalties for assaults against utility workers

HB 452 creates a new specific criminal offense for assaulting an employee of a public utility. The bill defines different levels of assault, including causing bodily injury, causing serious bodily injury, or creating reasonable apprehension of serious bodily injury with a weapon. It establishes distinct penalties for these offenses, which include imprisonment terms ranging from 8 to 20 years and fines up to $50,000, depending on the severity of the assault. This legislation aims to provide specific legal consequences for acts of violence against individuals working for public utilities.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new offense for assaulting utility workers with increased penalties (8-20 yrs, $50k fines), expanding criminalization and increasing mandatory sentences.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects utility workers from assault via enhanced criminal penalties, directly strengthening workplace safety protections for employees.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 422: Allow covenants that provide housing affordability

HB 422 proposed to amend Montana's covenant laws to allow specific types of agreements aimed at encouraging workforce housing affordability. The bill would have permitted covenants that restrict the sale, lease, or an owner's share of equity appreciation on residential properties. These restrictions would apply to individuals with specific incomes or occupations. The intent was to ensure the long-term affordability and attainability of housing for the workforce by allowing these covenants to remain with the property through future ownership.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly allows covenants to ensure long-term affordability for workforce housing, directly increasing affordable housing availability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly targets workforce housing affordability to ensure long-term housing access for workers, directly supporting employment stability and standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 319: Prohibiting employer requirements for employees to attend controversial social vision training

HB 319 aimed to prohibit employers from requiring employees to attend training sessions related to "controversial social vision." The bill defined "controversial social vision" as any agenda, concept, or theory not broadly accepted in society or that generates strong opposition from mainstream political, religious, or social groups. Additionally, it sought to amend election law to prevent an elector's employer, an agent of the employer, or a union officer from being designated as an agent for a disabled elector.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits mandatory employer training on controversial topics, protecting workers' autonomy and preventing potential discrimination in workplace requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 635: Revise human rights laws to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill prohibits DEI programs addressing systemic oppression and implicit bias - key components of criminal justice reform. This restricts initiatives to reduce bias in law enforcement and courts, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.80% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits government funding/support for DEI programs addressing workplace discrimination, directly restricting employment equality initiatives under Labor & Employment protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 621: Allow a local first response entity to establish a peer support program

HB 621 allows local first responder entities, including police departments, sheriff's offices, fire departments, and emergency medical service providers, to establish peer support programs. These programs must have a written policy that outlines qualifications for peer supporters, defines peer support sessions, and ensures confidentiality for participants. The bill prohibits qualified peer supporters from testifying about the content of peer support sessions, with exceptions if an employee has committed or plans a crime, or indicates intent to harm themselves or others.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables peer support programs for first responders, enhancing officer well-being and accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables peer support programs for first responders' mental health, expanding access to mental health services as a core healthcare component.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes mandatory peer support programs for first responders, enhancing workplace mental health and safety protections through confidentiality and written policies, aligning with workplace safety indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 807: Prohibiting vaccines allowed under an emergency use authorization or undergoing safety trials to be required

HB 807 amends state law to prohibit individuals from being required to receive certain vaccines. Specifically, it mandates that vaccines whose use is allowed under an emergency use authorization (EUA) or those still undergoing safety trials cannot be a requirement. This applies to persons, governmental entities, employers, and public accommodations, preventing them from denying services, employment, or access based on non-receipt of such vaccines. The bill integrates this new prohibition into existing law concerning discrimination based on vaccination status.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill prohibits mandatory EUA/trial vaccines, restricting public health mandate enforcement in healthcare programs per its explicit language.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents employers from denying employment based on non-receipt of EUA/vaccine trial vaccines, protecting workers' rights against mandatory unapproved medical requirements in the workplace.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 620: Revise laws prohibiting contracts that restrict practice to include physicians of all specialties

House Bill 620 revises state law concerning contracts that restrict a healthcare provider's ability to practice after leaving an employer or partnership. It expands existing protections, previously applicable to specific behavioral health professionals, to now include licensed physicians of all specialties. The bill amends Section 28-2-724, MCA, ensuring that contracts cannot prevent these medical professionals from practicing, providing services, or establishing patient relationships in any geographic area after their professional relationship ends.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands protections for physicians to practice freely after employment changes, preventing restrictive contracts that could limit patient access to care and strengthen healthcare provider mobility.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands employment protections for physicians by prohibiting restrictive practice contracts, advancing workers' right to practice freely post-employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment