Rep. Ed Buttrey

Maddy summaryHB 543 repeals the termination date for laws requiring the reporting and disclosure of violence against healthcare employees. Previously, these reporting requirements were set to expire on a specific date. By repealing that sunset clause, this bill makes the reporting and disclosure obligations permanent. This ensures that information about violence affecting healthcare workers will continue to be collected and shared indefinitely.

Maddy summaryHB 668 revises alcohol laws to prohibit certain licensees from offering gambling. The bill specifies that all-beverages licenses and beer and wine licenses issued to military clubs, veterans' organizations, and recognized national fraternal organizations after the bill's effective date will no longer be eligible to offer gambling activities. This means that these particular types of organizations, if granted a new alcohol license in the future, cannot also operate gambling on their premises. The change applies to newly issued licenses of these specific categories.

Maddy summaryHB 341 revises how funds are collected and used to support individuals and families, including military service personnel, living with traumatic brain injuries. It changes the existing voluntary donation for traumatic brain injury awareness during motor vehicle registration to an automatic $1 donation, from which individuals can opt out. The collected funds will be used by the Department of Public Health and Human Services for TBI prevention, education, and recovery support, and county treasurers must post notices explaining this automatic donation.

Maddy summaryHB 56 establishes an assessment fee program for ground ambulance providers licensed in the state. These providers will pay a uniform fee of 5.75% of their net operating revenues annually to the Department of Revenue. The revenues generated from this assessment are specifically designated to supplement Medicaid payments for ambulance services. The bill also outlines procedures for reporting, collection, auditing, and penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 141 revises Montana's gambling laws to permit certain entities to accept credit cards for raffle entries. Specifically, nonprofit organizations, colleges, universities, and school districts are now allowed to use credit cards when conducting raffles. The bill achieves this by updating the legal definitions of "credit gambling" and "internet gambling" to exempt these specific raffle transactions from prior restrictions. This change enables these designated organizations to offer credit card payment options for their raffles.

Maddy summaryHB 447 enacts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing licensed respiratory therapists to practice in multiple member states without needing a full license in each. This aims to increase public access to respiratory therapy services and improve workforce mobility, including for military members and their spouses. The compact establishes a "compact privilege" for therapists to practice in other member states while preserving each state's regulatory authority. It also includes provisions for criminal background checks for license applicants.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 496 amends Montana law to allow the state to accept jurisdiction over certain federal lands within its borders. The bill expands the types of federal lands for which the state can accept jurisdiction, adding lands used for military purposes to existing provisions for national parks. This means Montana can take back legal authority, either partially or wholly, from the U.S. government over these specific federal areas. The Governor is authorized to accept such retrocession of jurisdiction, which becomes effective once the acceptance is filed with the Montana Secretary of State.

Maddy summaryHB 438 establishes a new "Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals." This bill consolidates the licensing and regulatory authority for several healthcare professions, including athletic trainers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists, under this single new board. The board, composed of 12 members from these fields and one public member, will be responsible for setting licensure criteria, adopting fees, and issuing or renewing licenses. This change aims to streamline the oversight of these professionals, impacting those who practice in these fields and the citizens who receive their services.

Maddy summaryHB 367 revises Montana's workers' compensation laws, specifically clarifying coverage for employees injured while traveling for work. The bill states that an employer furnishing transportation or reimbursing travel expenses is not the sole factor in determining workers' compensation coverage during travel. Instead, an employee is covered if the travel is necessitated by and on behalf of the employer as an integral part of employment, or if the travel is required by the employer as part of job duties. It also clarifies that certain incentive payments are not considered travel reimbursements for coverage purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 544 revises health insurance laws, affecting health insurance issuers, covered individuals, and state employees/retirees. It prohibits health insurance issuers from retroactively denying coverage for services that received prior approval, with exceptions for fraud or misrepresentation. The bill also allows biologic therapies to be prescribed to minors under 18, even if FDA-approved only for adults, provided the treatment is medically necessary and supported by peer-reviewed medical literature. Furthermore, it amends provisions for state insurance contracts, detailing conditions under which certain state employees, retirees, and their families, as well as legislators and judges, can continue membership in state group health plans.