Sen. Carl Glimm

Maddy summarySB 437 revises the definitions of "sex," "female," "male," "man," "woman," "father," and "mother" within Montana law. The bill defines "sex" exclusively as biological sex, determined by reproductive anatomy, chromosomes, gonads, and genitalia present at birth. It clarifies that sex is limited to two categories, male and female, and is not influenced by an individual's gender identity, psychological state, or personal experience. This legislation amends numerous sections of the Montana Code Annotated to reflect these updated biological definitions.

Maddy summarySB 136 amends Montana's criminal code (Section 45-2-211, MCA) to state that a patient's consent to physician aid in dying is not a defense to a homicide charge against the physician. The bill defines "physician aid in dying" as a physician prescribing a lethal medication for the patient to self-administer, excluding standard comfort care or withholding life-sustaining treatment. This directly affects physicians who provide such aid, making their actions prosecutable as homicide if consent is claimed as a defense. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not impact existing practices of comfort care or end-of-life treatment under Montana law.

Maddy summarySB 436 revises Montana water law definitions to clarify how groundwater rights are managed, primarily affecting well owners and agencies like the Department of Natural Resources. The bill defines "combined appropriation" as multiple groundwater developments from the same aquifer that could have been handled as a single right, clarifying that these don’t require physical connection or simultaneous development. It also updates definitions for "aquifer recharge" and "aquifer storage and recovery" to specify water management practices. These changes aim to streamline permitting and management for groundwater users without altering existing permit requirements. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 62 would end Montana's Medicaid expansion program for able-bodied adults by prohibiting new enrollments after August 31, 2025, while requiring the Department of Public Health and Human Services to seek a federal waiver to maintain funding for current participants. The bill directly affects individuals enrolled in Montana's Medicaid expansion program who are able-bodied adults, preventing them from joining after the 2025 deadline. Key mechanisms include a strict enrollment cutoff date, a requirement for the department to apply for federal funding continuity, and authorization to implement program integrity measures like biannual eligibility reviews. The bill does not change coverage for individuals with specific health needs or those already enrolled continuously before September 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 90 would provide property tax relief to Montana homeowners with primary residences by using lodging and rental car tax revenue. Homeowners would need to apply for certification by March 1, proving they live in the home at least 7 months yearly and that the property value is under $1 million. Counties would apply the credit directly to property tax bills using annual funding based on certified residences, with penalties for false applications. The bill specifies that assistance won’t affect local mill rates and requires Department of Revenue certification of eligible primary residences.

Maddy summarySB 48 revises the complaint process for the Judicial Standards Commission. This bill allows citizens who file a complaint against a judge to make their complaints public at any time, removing the previous requirement for the complainant to maintain confidentiality. The change ensures citizens can exercise their right to free speech regarding alleged judicial misconduct while the commission conducts its investigation. This is achieved by amending sections 3-1-1106 and 3-1-1123 of state law.