Rep. Greg Kmetz

Maddy summaryHB 370 proposed to appropriate $65 million from the state's general fund. This funding was designated as a one-time supplemental contribution to the Montana Highway Patrol Officers' Retirement System pension fund. The bill aimed to address a reported unfunded liability within the pension system. If enacted, it would have directly affected the financial stability of the pension fund for current and retired Montana Highway Patrol officers and their beneficiaries, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 418 proposed to prohibit the administration of gene-based vaccines, such as messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccines, to animals in Montana. It would have also banned the importation of animals treated with or exposed to these vaccines. The bill aimed to prevent veterinarians from prescribing or dispensing these vaccines and pharmacists from selling or distributing them for animal use. Veterinarians violating the prohibition would face a $500 misdemeanor fine for each incident.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 371 aimed to prohibit the administration of gene-based vaccines, including those using messenger RNA (mRNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology, to humans within the state of Montana. The bill proposed that anyone providing or administering such a vaccine would be guilty of a misdemeanor, facing a $500 fine for each incident. It also required the relevant licensure board to review the license of any professional who violated this prohibition. This legislation would directly affect healthcare providers and individuals seeking these specific types of vaccines in Montana.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 682 revises laws concerning gender transition treatment, primarily affecting minors who receive such treatment and individuals seeking detransition services. It establishes a statute of limitations, allowing individuals 25 years from turning 18, or 4 years from discovery of injury, to file tort actions for damages from gender transition treatment received as a minor. The bill also mandates that private insurance and public employee/university system plans that cover gender transition treatment must provide reciprocal coverage for detransition treatment. Finally, it requires detransition treatment to be included as a service under Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids in specific situations.

Maddy summaryHB 793 revises the membership structure of the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council. The bill reduces the number of representatives from the board of crime control from two members to one. Additionally, it creates a new position on the council for a public safety communications officer. These changes affect the composition of the council responsible for setting standards for public safety officers.

Maddy summaryHJ 15 is a joint resolution from the Montana Legislature that expresses support for increasing electric transmission capacity. It states that upgrading and expanding transmission infrastructure, both within Montana and across state borders, is essential for ensuring affordable and reliable electricity service and stable economic growth for Montanans. The resolution directs copies to be sent to various governors, state and federal energy commissions, and rural electric cooperatives.

Maddy summaryHB 257 updates Montana's critical infrastructure protection laws by explicitly adding broadband and wireless communications infrastructure (including internet cables, cell towers, and related equipment) to the list of protected facilities. The bill expands definitions in Section 82-1-601 to include these networks under "critical infrastructure facility," while Section 82-1-602 clarifies criminal penalties for trespassing or damaging such facilities. Trespassing with intent to harm these newly protected facilities now carries felony charges (up to 18 months in prison or $4,500 fines), and damage exceeding $1,500 becomes a felony (up to 30 years in prison or $150,000 fines). This law directly affects anyone entering or damaging internet, phone, or cable infrastructure sites, with stricter penalties for intentional harm.