HB 3 is a funding bill that allocates specific amounts to Montana state agencies for the 2024-2025 fiscal year and continues some funding into the 2025-2026 biennium. It provides $22.2 million to the Public Health and Human Services Division, $12.5 million to the State Public Defender's Conflict Division, $4.07 million to the Montana Highway Patrol, and other sums to agencies like Revenue, Corrections, and Fish and Wildlife. The bill directs these funds for existing agency operations, with unspent balances reverting to their respective funds. It became law immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025, without requiring additional legislative action. This is a routine budget measure affecting state agency operations, not a policy change impacting citizens.
The bill underwent minor formatting updates, changing the bill number format from 'HB0003' to 'HB 3' and adjusting the header layout. Additionally, a specific funding distribution line for Public Schools was added, indicating a new allocation of $26,655 from the General Fund. These changes appear to be administrative and financial adjustments rather than substantive policy shifts.
TECHNICAL
The bill number format was updated from 'HB0003' to 'HB 3' in the header and title sections.
FISCAL
A new line item was added specifying a $26,655 distribution to Public Schools from the General Fund.
HB0003_X(5).pdf→HB0003_X(6).pdf·1 edit
MINOR
The bill text underwent minor formatting adjustments, primarily adding extra spacing between the budget amount and the funding source description. No substantive policy changes, funding amounts, or eligibility criteria were altered.
TECHNICAL
Added additional whitespace between the dollar amount and the funding source label in budget line items across multiple departments.
HB0003_X(4).pdf→HB0003_X(5).pdf·3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to remove the provision continuing an appropriation for the 2025-2027 biennium, limiting the funding strictly to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Additionally, the appropriation amount for the Department of Public Health and Human Services' Health Facilities Division was increased from $22.2 million to $27.2 million, while other agency funding amounts remained unchanged.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed regarding the duration of funding; it no longer provides for a multi-year continuation of appropriations for the Department of Revenue and other agencies.
TIMELINE
Removed the language continuing an appropriation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, meaning funds are now only authorized for the current fiscal year.
FISCAL
Increased the appropriation for the Health Facilities Division within the Department of Public Health and Human Services from $22,200,000 to $27,200,000.
Removed a duplicate line item for the Health Facilities Division that appeared in the original text, resulting in a single, corrected funding entry.
HB0003_3(8).pdf→HB0003_X.pdf·4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a draft version (HB0003.3) to an enrolled, signed version (HB0003), removing draft markers and adding official certification signatures. Substantively, the appropriations table was modified to increase funding for the Health Facilities Division, Legal Services Division, and Public Safety Division, while removing a specific line item for the Rehabilitation & Programs Division that appeared in the draft. The effective date and general scope of the appropriations remain unchanged.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same; it continues to appropriate money for various state agencies for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
FISCAL
Increased funding for the Health Facilities Division from $22.2 million to $27.2 million and for the Public Safety Division from $11.55 million to $21.8 million.
Modified the Legal Services Division appropriation, changing the listed amount from $973,201 to $4,167,744.
Removed the specific line item for the Rehabilitation & Programs Division ($380,000) that was present in the draft version.
TECHNICAL
Removed draft formatting markers (e.g., 'HB0003.3', 'NEW SECTION') and added official certification text indicating the bill has been signed by the House and Senate.
HB0003_4.pdf→HB0003_3(8).pdf·3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered to HB 3.3 to reflect its new status as an enrolled bill. The primary substantive change involves a significant increase in funding for the Legal Services Division, which was raised from $4,167,744 to $973,201 (likely a formatting error in the source text where the original amount was split or misaligned, but the line now explicitly lists the higher figure alongside the lower one). Additionally, the Public Safety Division funding was adjusted to include a new line item of $13,800,000 alongside the existing $21,801,470. These changes alter the total budget available to these state agencies for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains an appropriation for state agencies for the 2025 fiscal year, but the specific funding amounts for the Legal Services Division and Public Safety Division have been modified.
FISCAL
The appropriation amount for the Legal Services Division was modified, with the text now displaying $973,201 in addition to the original $4,167,744, indicating a potential budget increase or a correction to the line item.
The Public Safety Division funding was modified to include an additional line item of $13,800,000 alongside the existing $21,801,470, increasing the total available funds for this division.
TECHNICAL
The bill number was changed from HB 3 to HB 3.3, and the bill text was reorganized to reflect its status as an enrolled bill, including the addition of certification signatures.
HB0003_3(7).pdf→HB0003_4.pdf·3 edits
MINOR
The bill was converted from a House Bill draft to an Enrolled Bill, indicating it has been passed by both legislative chambers and is ready for the Governor's signature. The text was reorganized to remove redundant introductory clauses and formatting errors, while preserving the original appropriations for state agencies like the Department of Revenue and Department of Justice. No changes were made to the specific funding amounts, agency allocations, or effective dates.
TECHNICAL
The document format changed from a House Bill draft to an Enrolled Bill, adding certification signatures for the Chief Clerk, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate.
Redundant text defining the act's purpose was removed to eliminate duplication between the title and the enacting clause.
Formatting inconsistencies in the appropriations table were corrected, including the removal of a duplicate dollar amount column and the deletion of a stray line break.
HB0003_2(16).pdf→HB0003_3.pdf·6 edits
MODERATE
The bill underwent significant restructuring, shifting from a simple appropriations measure to a more complex document containing multiple new sections and reorganized funding allocations. The most critical change is the addition of a new 'Effective date' section, which establishes when the law becomes active, a standard requirement for legislation that was previously missing. Additionally, several funding line items were modified, with some agencies seeing increased allocations while others were reorganized or removed from the text.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from a straightforward budget adjustment to include new substantive sections regarding the effective date of the act, altering its procedural completeness.
TIMELINE
Added a new section explicitly stating that the act is effective upon passage and approval, ensuring the law has a defined start date.
FISCAL
Increased the appropriation for the Legal Services Division from $973,201 to $4,167,744.
Increased the appropriation for the Public Safety Division from $11,550,000 to $21,801,470.
Reallocated State Level Activities funding, moving it from a specific distribution amount to a new General Fund allocation of $617,000.
Removed the continuation clause for the Department of Revenue appropriation that was set to begin July 1, 2025.
TECHNICAL
Reorganized the order of line items for the Department of Fish, Wildlife, & Parks and its divisions, changing the sequence of funding entries.
HB0003_1(7).pdf→HB0003_2(11).pdf·5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from HB 3.1 to HB0003.2 and updated the effective date text to remove a semicolon. The most significant change is a substantial increase in funding for the Health Facilities Division, which rose from $22.2 million to $27.2 million. Additionally, the bill reorganized the structure of appropriations for the Department of Justice and Department of Corrections, shifting line items and creating new divisions like the 'Legal Services Division' while adjusting amounts for the Public Safety and Rehabilitation divisions.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on state appropriations for the 2025 fiscal year, but the specific agencies receiving funding and the amounts allocated have been modified.
FISCAL
Funding for the Health Facilities Division increased by $5 million, from $22.2 million to $27.2 million.
Funding for the Public Safety Division within the Department of Corrections increased from $11.55 million to $13.8 million.
A new 'Legal Services Division' was added under the Department of Justice with an appropriation of $973,201.
The Rehabilitation & Programs Division funding increased from $380,000 to $13.8 million (note: this appears to be a structural reorganization where the new Public Safety amount may have replaced or been combined with the old Rehabilitation amount, or the diff indicates a complex shift in line items).
TECHNICAL
The bill title was updated from 'HB 3.1' to 'HB0003.2' and the effective date clause was slightly edited to remove a semicolon.
HB0003_2(10).pdf→HB0003_1(7).pdf·3 edits
MINOR
The bill was renumbered from HB 3.2 to HB 3.1 and updated its effective date language. The primary substantive change involves a significant restructuring of funding allocations within the Department of Justice and Department of Corrections, where line items were reordered and amounts were adjusted. Additionally, a new funding category for 'State Level Activities' was added to the Office of Public Instruction.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding specific agency funding allocations has changed due to the reorganization of line items and the addition of new funding categories.
FISCAL
Funding allocations for the Department of Justice and Department of Corrections were reorganized; the 'Legal Services Division' was renamed to 'Office of State Public Defender' and split into a 'Conflict Division' and 'Rehabilitation & Programs Division' with adjusted amounts.
A new appropriation of $26,655 was added to the Office of Public Instruction for 'State Level Activities'.
TECHNICAL
The bill number was changed from HB 3.2 to HB 3.1, and the effective date clause was slightly modified for grammatical consistency.
HB0003_1(6).pdf→HB0003_2(9).pdf·4 edits
MODERATE
The bill underwent significant reorganization and funding adjustments. The most critical change is a $5 million increase in funding for the Health Facilities Division, raising the appropriation from $22.2 million to $27.2 million. Additionally, the document structure was altered, with the Department of Justice and Department of Corrections sections being reordered and renamed (e.g., 'Office of State Public Defender' became 'LEGAL SERVICES DIVISION'). Minor formatting corrections were also applied to the header and effective date text.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding funding allocations changed, specifically increasing the budget for health facilities. The organizational structure of the appropriations list was modified, but the overall subject matter of the bill remains the same.
FISCAL
Increased the appropriation for the Health Facilities Division by $5 million, changing the amount from $22,200,000 to $27,200,000.
Increased the appropriation for the Public Safety Division under the Department of Corrections by $2.25 million, changing the amount from $11,550,000 to $13,800,000.
SCOPE
Reordered and renamed sections within the appropriations list; the 'Office of State Public Defender' was split and renamed to 'LEGAL SERVICES DIVISION' and 'Conflict Division', while the 'Department of Corrections' was moved down the list.
TECHNICAL
Corrected the header text to remove 'HB 3.1' and changed the effective date line to remove a space before 'AND'.
HB0003_2(8).pdf→HB0003_1(6).pdf·3 edits
MINOR
The bill reorganized the legislative text to align with a new numbering system, shifting the bill identifier from HB0003.2 to HB 3.1. The most significant substantive change is the restructuring of the appropriation table for the Department of Justice, which renamed the 'Legal Services Division' to the 'Office of State Public Defender' and split its funding into two distinct divisions: a 'Conflict Division' and a 'Public Safety Division.' Additionally, the Department of Corrections was reorganized to include a new 'Rehabilitation & Programs Division' with a specific funding allocation.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding the Department of Justice and Department of Corrections was expanded by creating new internal divisions within those agencies to receive specific funding allocations.
FISCAL
The appropriation table was restructured to rename the 'Legal Services Division' to 'Office of State Public Defender' and split its funding into two separate divisions: 'Conflict Division' and 'Public Safety Division.'
A new 'Rehabilitation & Programs Division' was added under the Department of Corrections with a specific funding allocation of $380,000.
TECHNICAL
The bill header was updated from HB0003.2 to HB 3.1, and the document's internal section numbering was adjusted to reflect this change.
HB0003_2(3).pdf→HB0003_2(4).pdf·1 edit
MINOR
The bill underwent formatting adjustments to align the Department of Revenue and Legal Services Division line items with the document's standard style. Additionally, the funding amount for the Property Assessment Division was increased from $1,700,000 to $1,700,000 (no numerical change, only formatting), and the Legal Services Division funding line was adjusted to match the new formatting style. These changes do not alter the substantive policy, funding levels, or scope of the legislation.
TECHNICAL
Formatting changes were applied to the Department of Revenue and Legal Services Division line items to ensure consistent alignment with the document's standard layout.
HB0003_1(5).pdf→HB0003_2.pdf·4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered and reorganized, shifting from a sequential format to a nested structure where agency names are indented under their respective departments. The most significant substantive change is an increase in the funding amount for the Health Facilities Division from $22,200,000 to $27,200,000. Additionally, the Public Safety Division funding increased from $11,550,000 to $13,800,000, while the Property Assessment Division funding remained unchanged. Several line items were restructured to clarify the hierarchy between departments and divisions.
Scope change
The bill's scope of funding remains the same, but the presentation of agencies and divisions was restructured to improve clarity and hierarchy.
FISCAL
Increased funding for the Health Facilities Division by $5,000,000.
Increased funding for the Public Safety Division by $2,250,000.
TECHNICAL
Reorganized the layout to indent division names under their parent departments for better readability.
Adjusted line numbers and section headers to reflect the new formatting structure.
LC0707.pdf→HB0003_1.pdf·5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from LC 0707 to HB 3 and updated to reflect sponsorship by L. Jones and D. Bedey. The fiscal year end date was adjusted to June 30, 2025, with the effective date set for July 1, 2025, removing the previous 'continuing an appropriation for the biennium' language. These changes appear to be technical updates for legislative tracking and sponsorship attribution rather than substantive policy shifts.
TECHNICAL
Bill number changed from LC 0707 to HB 3.1 in headers and footers.
Sponsors L. Jones and D. Bedey were added to the bill introduction line.
TIMELINE
Removed the phrase 'continuing an appropriation for the biennium' from the fiscal year description.
Changed the fiscal year end date description to 'The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025'.
Removed the word 'AND' before 'providing an immediate effective date' in the bill title.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 15, 2025 · House Mar 21, 2025
How they voted
27–22
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Mar 15, 2025
D
Democratic18
17 Yea1 Nay
94% Yea
R
Republican32
10 Yea21 Nay1
65% Nay
Your representatives
Vote distribution
All YeaAll NayMixedNo data
51–45
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 100
Mar 21, 2025
D
Democratic42
39 Nay3
92% Nay
R
Republican58
51 Yea6 Nay1
87% Yea
Your representatives
Vote distribution
All YeaAll NayMixedNo data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
40
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Apr 7, 2025
Became-Law
Chapter Number Assigned
legislature
Apr 7, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Executive-Receipt
(H) Transmitted to Governor
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Other
(H) Returned from Enrolling
lower
Mar 21, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (51-45-4)
house
Mar 21, 2025
Other
(H) Sent to Enrolling
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Reading-3
(H) 3rd Reading Senate Amendments
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Reading-3
(H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Reading-2
(H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Reading-2
(H) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Introduced
(S) Returned to House with Amendments
upper
Mar 15, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (27-22-1)
senate
Mar 15, 2025
Reading-3
(S) 3rd Reading
upper
Mar 15, 2025
Reading-3
(S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Reading-2
(S) 2nd Reading
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Reading-2
(S) Scheduled for 2nd Reading
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Other
(S) Hearing - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Finance and Claims