Sen. Mark Noland

Maddy summarySB 376, the "Worker Freedom Act," prohibits employers from requiring employees to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. It mandates written employee authorization for union dues deductions (with 30-day revocation rights), requires employers to post a notice about union choice rights, and imposes fines for violations. The bill directly affects all Montana employees, except federal workers, railroad employees, and those under federal labor law. It amended Montana law to align with these protections but died in committee in May 2025 without becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 454 proposes significant revisions to Montana's commercial tow truck regulations. It establishes new classification standards for tow trucks (Classes A-E) based on equipment capacity and chassis requirements, replacing previous ratings. The bill also mandates certification for operators (75% of employees for companies, or 1 year of experience for individuals), requires equipment to meet updated safety standards, and clarifies requirements for participating in the law enforcement rotation system. These changes directly affect tow truck operators, companies, and the Montana Highway Patrol, which oversees inspections and classification. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee without becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 377 moves oversight of Montana's banking and financial institutions from a separate commissioner to the state auditor's office. It updates the title of the banking role to "Commissioner of Securities, Insurance, and Banking and Financial Institutions" and clarifies that the state auditor supervises this position. The bill changes how related agencies (like the Division of Banking) are monitored by legislative committees, including listing the new commissioner under the state auditor's oversight. These changes streamline regulatory structure and align agency titles with current responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 66 proposed updating Montana's legal definitions related to judicial conduct and court procedures. It revised key terms like "bias," "conflict of interest," "judicial officers" (including all judges and justices of the peace), and "open-mindedness" to clarify expectations for fairness in court. The bill did not create new laws or policies but aimed to standardize terminology used across Montana's judiciary. It directly affected all judicial officers statewide by defining how their conduct and decisions would be assessed under existing law. The bill died in committee in May 2025 without becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 16 (Montana Senate Bill 16) amends Montana law to allow legislative committees to hold witnesses in contempt for refusing to comply with subpoenas. The bill specifically authorizes committees to commit witnesses for contempt through a majority-vote resolution, and makes refusal to testify or produce records a misdemeanor under existing law. It directly affects individuals or entities subpoenaed by legislative committees who decline to participate or provide requested information. The bill does not change substantive policy but clarifies procedural enforcement mechanisms for committee investigations.

Maddy summarySB 489 prohibits Montana credit unions from purchasing banks, bank assets, or bank liabilities. It directly affects Montana credit unions by amending Section 32-3-401 of the Montana Code to explicitly ban such acquisitions within the credit union's authorized powers. The key mechanism adds a clear prohibition to the existing statute, stating credit unions "may not acquire a bank, a bank's assets, a bank's liabilities, or any other aspect of a bank or a bank's business." This bill would have restricted credit unions from expanding into banking operations through acquisitions.

Maddy summarySB 374 proposed revisions to state laws governing contempt of court, which would have affected individuals and entities who fail to comply with court orders (e.g., ignoring subpoenas or court rulings). The bill aimed to modernize procedures for handling contempt cases but did not specify exact changes in the provided context. As noted in its status, the bill "died in process" on May 23, 2025, meaning it did not advance to become law. No further details about its specific provisions or intended impact were included in the available records.

Maddy summaryMontana's SJ 4 is a state legislative resolution applying to Congress for a "convention of the states" under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It seeks to propose a constitutional amendment requiring the federal government to balance its budget annually (excluding emergencies), meaning total federal spending must not exceed estimated revenues each year. The resolution states Montana's application remains active until two-thirds of states support the same amendment. This is a procedural request - not a law - and the bill died in committee after missing deadlines in 2025, with no direct impact on current federal budgeting.

Maddy summarySB 60 revises the laws governing insurance premium taxes for certain captive insurance companies and special purpose insurers. The bill establishes new tiered tax rates for both direct premiums collected and assumed reinsurance premiums. It also sets a minimum annual tax of $5,000, with quarterly adjustments for authorization or surrender, and an aggregate tax cap of $100,000 for most captive insurers. These changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 375 revises laws concerning the sale of hemp products to consumers in Montana. This bill prohibits the sale of edible products containing hemp that also contain total delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to individual consumers in the state. An exception is made if such products are authorized as a food or drug by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This legislation directly affects consumers and businesses involved in the sale of these specific edible hemp products.