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.
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.
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.
This bill (LC 3262) titled "Establishing a portable benefits plan" was introduced but never advanced beyond the drafting stage. It was assigned a drafter in December 2024, moved through several holds, and ultimately "died in process" on May 27, 2025. The provided context does not include the bill's specific provisions, target beneficiaries, or mechanisms, so no substantive summary can be generated. The bill's title suggests it aimed to create a system for workers to carry benefits between jobs, but no details on how this would function are available.
Bill LC 2769, titled "Revise laws for receipt of workers' compensation benefits on behalf of others," aimed to update procedures allowing representatives (such as family members or legal guardians) to receive workers' compensation benefits for injured workers. The bill sought to clarify who could legally act on behalf of an injured worker and streamline the process for benefit distribution. However, the bill did not advance beyond the drafting stage and was officially "dead" as of May 27, 2025. Without further details on its specific provisions, the exact policy changes remain unspecified. This bill would have directly affected injured workers and their designated representatives in the workers' compensation system.
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.
SB 291 amends Montana's workers' compensation law to require the Department of Labor and Industry to annually update its rules defining the value of lodging provided to employees as part of their compensation. The bill specifically changes Section 39-71-123 to mandate that lodging values must be adjusted yearly based on geographic housing costs and other reasonable factors. This affects workers in occupations where housing is part of their wages, such as agricultural or hospitality roles, ensuring the value used for calculating workers' compensation benefits reflects current local housing markets. The change focuses on the administrative process for valuing lodging, not on altering who qualifies for workers' compensation coverage.
HB 428 revises workers' compensation laws, primarily by clarifying the definition of "employer" for various entities and their workers. The bill specifies who is considered an employer for temporary workers, motor carriers, certain religious organizations, and fiscal agents making payments on behalf of workers. It also requires employers and insurers to annually submit reports detailing paid losses to help fund workers' compensation administration. Additionally, the legislation modifies the frequency of summary reports submitted by insurers and revises provisions related to medical status forms.
