Rep. Jerry Schillinger

Maddy summaryHB 832 creates a Montana state grant program to fund training for healthcare providers in nonmedication therapies for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, awards grants to entities developing 2-year projects that train licensed providers (including Veterans Affairs-certified professionals) in these therapies, develop treatment protocols, and engage in community planning. It appropriates $600,000 from the state general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium as a one-time allocation, requiring grantees to report outcomes like providers trained, patients served, and treatment impact by 2026. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 223 would require Montana motor vehicle insurance policies to cover costs for recovery and debris cleanup services provided by commercial tow truck operators at accident scenes. This change directly affects commercial tow truck operators by ensuring their service costs are included in standard auto insurance coverage, rather than being paid separately by accident victims or property owners. The bill amends Montana’s insurance law (Section 61-6-103) to explicitly include these costs under existing liability policy minimums, effective October 1, 2025. The policy change applies to all auto insurance policies issued or renewed on or after that date. (Note: The bill died in process on May 22, 2025, and did not become law.)

Maddy summaryHB 926 proposed revising state finance laws by directing the state treasurer to transfer all unobligated funds from the debt and liability free account. These funds would primarily be moved into the coal severance tax permanent fund. A key provision stipulated that if Senate Bill No. 90 did not pass, these funds would instead be transferred to the Montana school facilities fund. The bill also included a small appropriation of $100 from the general fund to the Department of Revenue for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 874 aimed to provide property tax rebates for certain residential properties owned by entities, such as trusts, that did not receive past rebates. The bill allowed these entities to claim up to $500 for property taxes paid in 2022 and up to $500 for property taxes paid in 2023. To qualify, the property must have been a principal residence, and claims needed to be submitted by October 1, 2025. The bill also extended the program's termination date to June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 915 revises the property taxation of certain wind generation facilities in Montana. The bill reclassifies specific wind generation facilities, moving them from Class Fourteen to Class Thirteen for property tax purposes. This change means these facilities would be taxed at 6% of their market value, which is the rate established for Class Thirteen property. The bill also includes provisions for an immediate effective date and retroactive applicability.

Maddy summaryHB 522 aimed to establish new laws regarding pesticide warning labels and liability. It placed a duty on manufacturers, marketers, distributors, retailers, and sellers of pesticides to warn consumers and the public about associated risks. This duty would be considered satisfied if the pesticide's label was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under federal law and the pesticide was registered with both the EPA and the state's department of agriculture. Under these conditions, liability for failing to warn would not arise. The bill would apply to legal actions that originate after its effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 152 revises election laws concerning county attorney retention elections. If an incumbent county attorney is the only candidate for the office, the general election ballot would not include a nonpartisan designation or a write-in space. Instead, the ballot would present a question asking voters if the named incumbent county attorney should be retained for another term. Voters would then indicate a "yes" or "no" vote. This change directly affects how voters cast their ballots for unchallenged incumbent county attorneys.

Maddy summaryHB 951 proposed a one-time transfer of $30 million from the state's general fund to the local road and bridge account. This action would have directed the state treasurer to complete the transfer by July 15, 2025. The funds were intended to support local road and bridge projects throughout the state, benefiting communities and their infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 615 revises how interest earned from the coal severance tax permanent fund is distributed to state programs. The bill specifically allocates $2 million to the Department of Justice to partially fund highway patrol officers' salaries. It also extends the termination date for several existing appropriations from this fund, pushing them from June 2027 to June 2029. These extended appropriations continue to support programs related to agriculture, commerce, and highway services, affecting various state agencies and the public services they provide.

Maddy summaryHB 345 clarifies the roles of the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the transportation commission concerning transit funding. The bill specifies that the MDT will be responsible for allocating federal transit administration funds, freight assistance funds, and other legislative appropriations. These funds are designated for the study, design, construction, repair, or improvement of rail or transit intermodal transportation systems. This change shifts the authority for allocating these specific funds from the commission to the department.