Labor & Employment

vetoed · Montana · House Jun 16, 2025

HB 901: Create a fire department health and safety grant program

This bill establishes a state grant program to help Montana fire departments purchase safety equipment and improve health and safety conditions for firefighters. The program allows eligible fire departments, companies, or districts to apply for up to $10,000 in grants for items such as personal protective equipment, saunas, shower facilities, and cleaning devices for gear. Funding comes from charitable donations and a $10 nonrefundable application fee paid by each applicant, with priority given to departments with smaller budgets, those in rural areas, and those serving diverse regions of the state. The bill also authorizes the state disaster and emergency services division to administer the program and adopt rules to implement it.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides grants to improve firefighter safety equipment and health conditions, directly supporting workplace safety and worker protection.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 308: Revising workers' compensation insurance laws to remove the limitation on benefits to the state's weekly average wage

SB 308 would remove Montana's current limit on workers' compensation benefits that capped payments at the state's average weekly wage. Instead, it would establish a fixed maximum benefit of $2,885 per week for all eligible injured workers. This change would directly affect higher-earning workers who previously received reduced benefits due to the wage-based cap. The bill amends specific sections of Montana's workers' compensation code to implement this fixed maximum payment structure.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves wage-based cap on workers' comp benefits, expanding payments for higher-earning injured workers by establishing a fixed $2,885 weekly maximum.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 372: Establish nurse safe staffing standards

SB 372 establishes minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for Montana hospitals, requiring specific limits in key units (e.g., 1 nurse per critical ER patient, 2 per ICU patient, 4 per medical-surgical unit). It mandates hospitals to create annual staffing plans with input from direct-care nurses, form committees where at least half the members are frontline nurses, and publicly post these plans. Hospitals must track and report actual nurse-to-patient ratios for each shift and unit, ensuring transparency for staff, patients, and the public. The bill directly affects all Montana hospitals licensed by the Department of Public Health, requiring concrete changes to staffing practices and reporting.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates nurse-to-patient ratios for patient safety, requires hospital staffing transparency, and involves frontline nurses in planning - directly strengthening healthcare delivery standards.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates nurse-to-patient ratios and nurse input to improve workplace safety, directly advancing worker protections in healthcare staffing standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 331: Require state buildings to have automatic fire sprinklers or suppression systems

SB 331 requires all state-owned or state-operated buildings in Montana to install automatic fire sprinkler systems or equivalent fire suppression systems. This bill amends the state building code to mandate this safety feature for government buildings, including offices, schools, and facilities managed by state agencies. The key provision adds a specific requirement to the building code rules, ensuring all state buildings meet this fire safety standard. It directly affects every Montana state building, enhancing fire protection without applying to private or non-state properties.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates fire safety systems in state buildings, directly improving workplace safety for government employees per Labor & Employment indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 295: Restoring the right for injured worker to choose their own doctor.

SB 295 would restore Montana injured workers' right to choose their own treating physician for initial treatment and ongoing care under workers' compensation, without being forced to use a managed care organization (MCO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) without consent. The bill requires insurers to allow workers to select a physician from a designated list for initial treatment and to change physicians with the insurer's approval (with mediation available if approval is denied). It also mandates that insurers provide individual written notice (not workplace postings) before referring workers to an MCO or PPO. This directly affects injured workers seeking medical treatment for work-related injuries in Montana, giving them more control over their healthcare decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores injured workers' right to choose treating physician, improving healthcare access without insurer-imposed MCO/PPO restrictions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestores injured workers' right to choose physicians under workers' comp, protecting healthcare access and advancing labor rights without forced MCO/PPO use.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ 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

signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 769: Revise labor law relating to computation of meal allowances

HB 769 revises the calculation of meal allowances for certain employees, specifically those who work night-shift hours. The bill amends existing state law to establish new timeframes for evening, midnight, and early morning meal allowances for night-shift employees. These allowances are applicable when an employee is traveling for more than three continuous hours during the specified night-shift periods. The bill also maintains existing provisions for non-night-shift employees and general eligibility rules based on an employee's travel shift.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRevises meal allowance calculation for night-shift workers during travel, clarifying entitlements under employment standards without weakening existing protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 316: Revising disability retirement provisions for MPORS and FURS

SB 316 revises disability retirement benefit provisions for members of the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System (MPORS) and the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System (FURS). It specifies that disability retirement benefits for these members will remain disability benefits, rather than converting to service retirement, once they reach normal retirement age, and will no longer require medical examinations. The bill also clarifies the calculation of line-of-duty disability benefits based on years of service. These changes apply retroactively to MPORS and FURS members who became disabled in the line of duty on or before January 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies disability retirement benefits remain secure without medical exams for police/firefighters, protecting their employment-related retirement benefits.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment