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

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 565: Creating the Montana endowment for early childhood and related structure

SB 565 creates a permanent Montana Endowment for Early Childhood, funded by quarterly state transfers and fees from renewed childcare facility licenses. It establishes a 7-member board (including state agency staff and community representatives) to manage the endowment and allocate funds from the Montana Early Childhood Account. The bill directs funds toward grants for childcare workforce development, quality improvements (like safety upgrades), affordability programs (including subsidies), and emergency assistance for childcare providers. These funds directly support early childhood programs, providers, and families accessing childcare services across Montana.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates permanent endowment funding childcare workforce development, quality improvements, and affordability subsidies, directly expanding early childhood educational access and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds childcare workforce development and safety upgrades, directly advancing worker conditions in early childhood sector per bill's allocation priorities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Workforce Development

Track

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

Sub-Topics Public Health

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 700: Changing the amortization period for statewide DB retirement systems to 25 years

House Bill 700 (HB 700) proposes to shorten the maximum amortization period for statewide defined benefit public employee retirement systems from 30 years to 25 years. This change directly affects the funding requirements for various public employee retirement plans, including those for general public employees, judges, highway patrol officers, sheriffs, police officers, firefighters, and teachers. The bill specifies that contributions must be sufficient to cover future benefits and amortize unfunded liabilities over this shorter 25-year period. Additionally, it establishes that no new benefits can be added to these systems unless they can amortize within 25 years or less and are projected to be fully funded.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesShortens amortization period to 25 years, requiring higher annual state contributions to fund retirement systems, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentShortens retirement amortization period to protect public employee benefits (e.g., teachers, police) by ensuring faster funding of unfunded liabilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Public Employees Retirement Benefits

Track

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 208: Revise definition of "dependent child" in highway patrol, police, and firefighter retirement systems

SB 208 revises the definition of "dependent child" within the retirement systems for highway patrol officers, police officers, and firefighters. For the Highway Patrol Officers' retirement system, the bill removes the requirement that a deceased member must have been "retired" for their child to be considered a dependent. This means an unmarried child under 18, or under 24 if a full-time student, of any deceased member may now qualify for benefits. The bill also updates the specific age and student status criteria for dependent children in the Police Officers' retirement system, and aims to make similar revisions for firefighters.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands dependent benefits for public safety retirees' families, strengthening employment benefits under retirement systems by removing eligibility barriers.85% confidence

Tags Children

signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 85: Reinstating former employer contributions for JRS, HPORS, SRS, GWPORS

HB 85 reinstates former employer contribution rates for four specific public employee retirement systems: the Judges', Highway Patrol Officers', Sheriffs', and Game Wardens' and Peace Officers' Retirement Systems. This directly impacts the governmental entities that employ these personnel and contribute to their pensions. The bill also amends the state's property tax levy calculation procedures, outlining how local governments determine their maximum mill levies based on factors like prior year assessments and newly taxable property. It specifically exempts certain levies, such as those funding the sheriffs' retirement system, from these new

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReinstates employer pension contributions, increasing state spending on public employee retirement systems, supporting fiscal responsibility for essential programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReinstates employer pension contributions for public employees, protecting retirement benefits which fall under employment standards and worker benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions Property Tax Public Employees Retirement Benefits

introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 29, 2025

LC 4164: Authorize transfers and other necessary measures to implement HB 2-Section B

This bill amends Montana law to implement funding and reporting requirements for behavioral health services and hospital reimbursements. It expands the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Fund to include one-time funding for additional beds at the Montana State Hospital and student loan repayment programs for nurses, LPNs, and psychiatrists at state facilities (prioritizing Montana State Hospital staff). The bill mandates monthly reports on Montana State Hospital hiring efforts and quarterly reports on school and community treatment services for children. Additionally, it directs 2% of hospital utilization fee revenue to support rural critical access hospitals and provide incentive payments to hospitals meeting efficiency and patient-centered care standards.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates one-time funding for behavioral health services, hospital beds, and staff loan repayments under state finance appropriations, directly advancing public service funding.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands behavioral health funding, adds hospital beds, and provides student loan repayment for healthcare workers at state facilities, directly advancing mental health services and workforce access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds student loan repayment for nurses, LPNs, and psychiatrists at state facilities, directly supporting workforce recruitment/retention in healthcare labor.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 4031: Revise reimbursement and procedures for paid time off relating to continuing education credits for teachers

Bill LC 4031 proposed revisions to the existing system for teachers to utilize paid time off for continuing education credits. It aimed to update both the procedures for taking such leave and the reimbursement mechanisms associated with it. The bill sought to modify how educators access and are compensated for time spent on professional development and obtaining further certifications.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill revises paid time off for teacher continuing education, enhancing professional development support and compensation for educators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill revises paid time off procedures for teachers' continuing education, enhancing professional development benefits and improving access to employment-related compensation for educators.90% confidence

Track

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 346: Exempt Commerce grants and loans from MEPA

HB 346 exempts various grant and loan programs from environmental review requirements under the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). This bill directly affects the Department of Commerce, Board of Housing, and other commissions by removing the need for environmental assessments when authorizing or administering these specific programs. The exemptions apply to programs supporting microbusiness development, historic preservation, workforce training, housing finance, and other economic development initiatives. This aims to streamline the process for providing financial assistance through these identified programs.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts Commerce programs from MEPA environmental reviews, weakening oversight and protections by removing required assessments for projects.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts housing finance programs from MEPA, facilitating implementation and supporting housing development as explicitly listed in bill summary.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill exempts workforce training programs from MEPA reviews, facilitating faster implementation of employment-focused initiatives under Department of Commerce programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Historic Preservation Housing Finance Property Development Workforce Development

died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 51: Increase MUS-RP supplemental contribution to TRS

HB 51 proposes to increase the supplemental employer contribution rate paid by employers within the Montana University System (MUS) to the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS). Currently, MUS employers contribute 4.72% of the total compensation for employees participating in the MUS Retirement Program. This bill would raise that contribution rate to 14.21%. The increased contributions are intended to help amortize the past service liability of the Teachers' Retirement System for university system members by July 1, 2033, with the changes taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases retirement contributions for university teachers, strengthening teacher benefits within higher education funding system.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases employer retirement contributions (4.72% to 14.21%) for MUS teachers, expanding their retirement benefits as part of employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track