This bill allocates $500,000 from the state special revenue account to Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services for suicide prevention efforts targeting service members, veterans, and their families. The funding will support implementing strategies developed with federal assistance, establishing suicide risk screening standards, and improving care transitions through peer support and collaborative policies between military and civilian agencies. Additional provisions include launching a statewide safe storage campaign for lethal means, conducting safety training events, and creating a working group to adopt clinical guidelines for safety planning. The act also requires the secretary of state to notify federally recognized tribal governments and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill changes the composition of Montana's Board of Housing by requiring that at least one member be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe and at least one member be a veteran of the U.S. armed forces. The legislation amends state law to mandate these specific qualifications when the governor appoints the seven-member board, which currently requires members to have expertise in housing, economics, or finance. The bill does not alter the board's existing powers or administrative structure but adds diversity requirements to its membership. This change ensures that tribal and veteran perspectives are formally represented on the board that oversees housing programs in the state.
This bill strengthens legal protections for service animals and their handlers in Montana by establishing new criminal offenses for harassment, harm, or unauthorized control of service animals. It creates misdemeanor charges for individuals who continue to interfere with a service animal after receiving a warning, negligently cause injury to a service animal, or allow their own pets to harm one, with penalties including fines up to $1,000. The legislation also mandates restitution for handlers covering expenses such as veterinary care, training for replacement animals, medical bills, and lost wages, while amending existing laws to explicitly include service animals in definitions of vicious dogs and liability rules for dog bites.
This bill revises Montana's film tax credit program to expand incentives for media production companies operating in the state. It increases the total credit limit available, extends the program through 2045, and creates a new fee specifically for workforce training in the film industry. The legislation also introduces higher credits for hiring veterans and tribal members, establishes rules reserving credits for Montana-based businesses, and clarifies definitions around compensation and eligible production activities.
This bill creates a new Department of Health Services in Montana and transfers human services functions from the Department of Public Health and Human Services to this new agency. The transferred functions include developmental disabilities services, mental health care, chemical dependency treatment, and veterans' long-term care services. The bill also requires all contracts for third-party human services to include dispute resolution clauses and updates state code definitions related to department performance and structure.
This bill amends Montana's Military Higher Education Act to clarify definitions of military service terms and strengthen protections for reservists and National Guard members attending college. It requires faculty to provide eligible students at least 15 business days to complete missed coursework when they miss assignments due to inactive duty training or annual training. The legislation also mandates that students returning from active duty within 12 months be readmitted with their previous academic standing, provided they request it. These changes directly affect students in Montana's reserve components and National Guard who need to balance military obligations with higher education requirements.
This bill establishes the Arthur John Rambo Memorial Bridge over the Kootenai River in Libby, Montana, on Highway 37, honoring Staff Sergeant Arthur J. Rambo, a World War II and Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions in Vietnam. The legislation directs the Montana Department of Transportation to install signs at both ends of the bridge and to place a memorial plaque near the bridge to commemorate Rambo's life and sacrifice. The bill affects the state transportation department, which will be responsible for designing and installing the signage and plaque, while the community of Libby is the primary beneficiary of this memorial designation.
This bill reorganizes Montana's decennial veterans' long-term care needs study by shifting primary responsibility from the Department of Public Health and Human Services to the Montana Veterans' Affairs Division. The study will gather data on veteran demographics, long-term care requirements, and community service needs through surveys, focus groups, and collaboration with stakeholders like veterans' organizations and caregivers. Key provisions require the Veterans' Affairs Division to create a study plan and budget estimate before beginning, provide regular updates during the process, and submit a final report with recommendations to the state administration and veterans' affairs committee. The bill also mandates an analysis of existing veterans' home services and evaluates the need for additional state veterans' cemeteries.
This bill updates Montana laws to regulate which flags and banners can be displayed on state buildings, public schools, and other government-owned property. It allows only specific official flags, including those of the United States, Montana, local government entities, military branches, and law enforcement, while prohibiting displays that promote political parties, ideologies, or social causes. The legislation clarifies that these rules apply solely to government-controlled spaces and do not restrict private speech or personal expression outside official displays.
This bill revises Montana's income tax rules to better align state taxation with federal tax treatment for military pensions, retirement benefits, and survivor benefits. It expands the exemption for certain individuals who became Montana residents or remained residents after a specific date, removes a previous five-year limit on claiming this exemption, and eliminates a statutory sunset provision that would have ended the exemption. The legislation also amends existing tax code sections to clarify how various military-related income items are calculated for state tax purposes, ensuring consistency with federal tax definitions. These changes directly affect Montana residents receiving military retirement income and their dependents, providing more permanent tax relief without changing the fundamental structure of the state income tax system.
