Labor & Employment

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 202: Revise laws regarding receipt of workers' compensation benefits on behalf of others

This bill creates a formal process for appointing a "benefits custodian" to manage workers' compensation payments for minors under 18 or adults legally declared unable to manage their own affairs. It allows any party (like a claimant or insurer) to petition a workers' compensation judge directly for this appointment, without needing to first resolve other payment disputes. The judge would then oversee how benefits are received and distributed on behalf of these vulnerable individuals. This amendment clarifies and expands existing Montana law to ensure proper handling of payments for those who cannot manage them themselves.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFormalizes process to ensure vulnerable workers (minors/incapacitated adults) receive compensation without payment disputes blocking access, strengthening benefit protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 325: Creating family and medical leave act

SB 325 would have created Montana's first state-run family and medical leave insurance program. It would have established an insurance fund funded by mandatory contributions from both employers and employees (and optional contributions from self-employed individuals), providing wage replacement benefits for up to 12 weeks per year for qualifying medical or family needs like childbirth, serious illness, or caring for a family member. The program would have directly affected Montana workers who paid into the fund, their employers, and self-employed individuals who opted in, with benefits contingent on fund solvency. The bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates state-run family leave with wage replacement benefits, expanding worker protections for medical/family needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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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

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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vetoed · Montana · Senate Jun 9, 2025

SB 394: Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders

SB 394 would have expanded Montana's workers' compensation system to cover posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for eligible first responders. It defines "first responder" to include firefighters, law enforcement officers, detention center/prison staff, and emergency care providers, requiring a diagnosis per the latest DSM-5 manual that links PTSD directly to work duties. The bill amended existing laws to allow PTSD claims under workers' compensation, subject to standard procedural requirements. However, this bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 9, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands workers' comp coverage to include PTSD for first responders, directly enhancing mental health care access under healthcare services per bill's explicit coverage expansion.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation benefits for first responders by covering PTSD, directly strengthening workplace health protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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signed · Montana · Senate May 8, 2025

SB 223: Allow interest earned on workforce housing appropriations to be retained

SB 223 amends an existing law to ensure that any interest or income earned from a $12 million fund for workforce housing is retained within that fund. This fund is specifically allocated to assist employees working at state facilities that house state inmates or behavioral health patients, particularly in eligible rural counties. By retaining the earned interest, the bill aims to increase the total resources available for initiatives such as buying down construction costs, providing loans, or acquiring housing for these employees. The bill takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to interest earned on or after June 14, 2023.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRetains interest in workforce housing fund to increase resources for housing initiatives, promoting fiscal responsibility and funding essential programs within state appropriations.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRetains interest in workforce housing fund, increasing resources for housing initiatives in rural counties, directly funding affordable housing development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRetains interest in workforce housing fund to increase resources for employee housing at state facilities, directly supporting employment conditions for workers in eligible rural counties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 27, 2025

LC 1364: Generally revise employee tax credit laws to include apprentices

This bill expands Montana's job growth tax credit to include construction industry apprentices as "qualifying new employees." It amends Section 39-11-404 to explicitly define apprentices as eligible for the credit, which previously required hiring full-time employees meeting specific wage and growth thresholds. Employers in the construction industry that hire apprentices will now qualify for the same annual tax credit as those hiring other new employees, subject to existing requirements (e.g., 10+ apprentices in the first year, 15+ annually after). The credit remains tied to net employee growth calculations and is administered by the Montana Department of Revenue. The policy change applies to credits claimed through 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit for construction apprentices, providing tax relief to employers under revenue program, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax credit eligibility for construction apprentices, incentivizing employer hiring and workforce development under Labor & Employment policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Apprenticeships

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died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 4288: Generally revise independent contractor exemption laws

LC 4288 aimed to revise laws governing independent contractor exemptions, which would have affected workers classified as independent contractors and businesses using such arrangements. The bill sought to update the criteria for determining independent contractor status, potentially altering how workers' rights and business obligations are defined. However, the bill was placed on hold in April 2025 and ultimately died in the drafting process without advancing further. No specific provisions or mechanisms were finalized, as the bill never progressed beyond the draft stage.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill revises independent contractor rules to potentially expand worker protections and rights under Labor & Employment laws, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Workers' Compensation

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1409: Create a public employee bill of rights

This bill (LC 1409), titled "Create a public employee bill of rights," was proposed to establish specific rights for state and local government employees. The bill never advanced beyond the drafting stage, as it was placed on hold in February 2025 and ultimately died in process on May 26, 2025. No concrete policy provisions were enacted, as the bill did not reach a vote or committee hearing. Therefore, it did not directly affect any public employees or create new legal protections. The proposal was procedural in nature but never became law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly aims to establish public employee rights, aligning with worker protection indicators despite not advancing to vote.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1580: Expand child labor laws to include digital labor practices

Bill LC 1580, titled "Expand child labor laws to include digital labor practices," proposed to update existing child labor regulations to cover digital work performed by minors, such as creating social media content, participating in online gigs, or engaging in digital content creation. The bill would have required businesses and platforms employing minors in digital work to comply with age restrictions and hour limits similar to traditional child labor laws. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 26, 2025, and did not become law, so no policy changes were implemented.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands child labor protections to digital work, strengthening minor workers' rights under Labor & Employment regulations.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill imposes restrictions on digital labor practices (e.g., content creation, online gigs) by minors via age/hour limits, limiting technology use in labor contexts rather than advancing tech policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Gig Economy Labor Standards Online Safety Social Media

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1606: Require paid sick leave in Montana

This bill (LC 1606) proposed requiring Montana employers to provide paid sick leave to employees. It would have directly affected workers in Montana by mandating that employers offer a minimum number of paid sick days per year for health needs or other qualifying reasons. The key provision would have required businesses above a certain size to establish this benefit, though specific details like the number of days or eligibility thresholds weren't provided in the available context. The bill was drafted in 2024 but was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025, meaning it never became law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates paid sick leave for health needs, improving access to healthcare services without income loss for employees seeking treatment.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid sick leave for Montana workers, expanding employee benefits and protecting health-related absences95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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