Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 481 (HB 481) aimed to increase transparency by requiring specific Montana state agencies to publish guidance documents received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It directly affected the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Agriculture, and the Board of Oil and Gas Conservation. Each agency would have been required to designate a website within 90 days to host these documents. New EPA guidance documents would need to be published within 15 days of receipt, and rescinded documents would remain on the site, clearly marked with their status and date of rescission.

Maddy summaryHB 555 aimed to revise laws related to chemical abortion, primarily by establishing new conditions for health care providers and responsibilities for drug manufacturers. It would have required health care providers to physically examine patients, be present during a chemical abortion, schedule a follow-up visit, and provide a "catch kit" and "medical waste bag" for proper disposal. The bill also sought to make manufacturers of abortion drugs responsible for the proper disposal of discarded drugs and for mitigating environmental effects of chemical byproducts entering public waste systems. Violations by providers could lead to felony charges, while manufacturers could face fines.

Maddy summaryHB 420 sought to revise laws concerning property tax liens and tax deeds, impacting property owners with delinquent taxes and other interested parties. The bill proposed extending the time allowed for interested parties to redeem a property and introduced an "equity threshold," which would prevent a tax deed from being issued unless the tax delinquency surpassed a specific value relative to the property's equity. It also aimed to provide additional notices to interested parties, require real-time online bidding for tax lien sales, and establish procedures for distributing surplus funds from sales as unclaimed property. Additionally, the bill redefined certain property types eligible for increased protections.

Maddy summaryHB 200 proposes to increase the total amount of film tax credits available annually under the Montana Economic Development Industry Advancement (MEDIA) Act. The bill would raise the yearly cap on these tax credits from $12 million to $350 million. This change directly affects film production companies and related businesses that qualify for and claim these tax credits in Montana. The Department of Commerce grants authorization for these credits, which are then claimed on a first-come, first-served basis. This increase would apply to income tax years starting after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 331 proposes to revise the laws governing marijuana advertising. The bill defines key terms such as "advertise," "billboard," and "commercial mascot" to clarify what constitutes advertising for marijuana and its products. It directly affects licensed marijuana businesses, including dispensaries, cultivators, and manufacturers, by amending specific sections of the Montana Code Annotated related to their advertising practices.

Maddy summaryHB 899 establishes the Montana State Shooting Complex Development and Oversight Task Force, made up of state officials, industry representatives, and public members. This task force is charged with developing a framework for selecting a location, creating preliminary specifications, and soliciting proposals for a new state shooting complex. The bill also creates the Montana State Shooting Complex Account to fund the complex's siting and construction, and appropriates $55,000 from the general fund for the task force's initial activities. The task force is set to terminate on June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 549 allows licensed Montana distilleries to sell interests in their aging liquor through what are called "warehouse receipts." These receipts represent liquor stored at the distillery's bonded premises and can be purchased by any person. The bill also permits the resale of these warehouse receipts and allows intermediary businesses to market or manage their sales. Importantly, owning a warehouse receipt does not grant an ownership interest in the distillery business or its license.

Maddy summaryHB 718 establishes an Office of Reentry Services within the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. This office is tasked with coordinating supportive services for individuals preparing to exit or exiting incarceration and reentering communities. Its purpose is to facilitate access to programs like job training, job placement, education, housing assistance, transportation, food security, and behavioral health services. The office will collaborate with various state agencies, companies, and stakeholder organizations to achieve these goals. It also requires the department to submit regular reports to legislative committees detailing the services provided, their cost, and the number of individuals served.

Maddy summaryMontana House Joint Resolution 10 (HJ 10) declares the Montana Legislature's belief that biological boys and men should not be allowed to participate in girls' and women's sports. The resolution formally urges the United States Congress to pass the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025." It directs that copies of this resolution be sent to key federal officials, including the President and members of Congress, to communicate this position and request.

Maddy summaryHJ 45 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study in Montana on the impact of collateral consequences on criminal record expungement. The study will investigate challenges faced by individuals with expunged criminal records, particularly concerning employment and housing barriers due to existing laws, online information, and discrimination. It aims to review current expungement laws, analyze outcomes for individuals with expunged records, and examine practices in other states. The study will suggest specific changes to state law to address these barriers and report its findings to the 70th Legislature in the form of introduced legislation.