HB 358 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise pension laws related to the Volunteer Firefighters' Compensation Act

HB 358 revises the pension benefits for eligible volunteer firefighters under the Volunteer Firefighters' Compensation Act. The bill increases the full monthly pension benefit from $175 to $200. It maintains the calculation for partial pension benefits based on years of service and includes provisions for additional increases for those who serve beyond 20 years, with further conditional increases for service beyond 30 years if the pension fund is actuarially sound. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Signed May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0358_1(5).pdf HB0358_X.pdf · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the monthly pension benefit for volunteer firefighters in Montana from $175 to $200. It also introduces a new tiered increase of $7.50 per year for service beyond 20 or 30 years, contingent on the pension fund's financial health, and sets the effective date for July 1, 2025.
Scope change
The bill applies to all eligible volunteer firefighter members, with specific new provisions for those with more than 20 years of service.
FISCAL

The base monthly pension benefit was increased from $175 to $200.

ELIGIBILITY

New provisions grant additional monthly increases of $7.50 for years of service exceeding 20 or 30 years, subject to pension fund solvency.

TIMELINE

The act is set to become effective on July 1, 2025.

REQUIREMENT

Additional pension increases for long-service members are now conditional on the pension trust fund being actuarially sound and having an amortization period of 20 years or less.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 12, 2025 · House Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

3713
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 12, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
19 Yea 13 Nay
59% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
51
Key actions
13
Committee
12
May 5, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 12, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (37-13)
senate
Apr 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Committee
(S) Rereferred to Committee - (S) Finance and Claims
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) State Administration
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) State Administration
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) State Administration
upper
Feb 24, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (90-9-1)
house
Feb 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Appropriations
lower
Feb 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Appropriations
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Committee
(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Appropriations
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) State Administration
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) State Administration
lower
Jan 31, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Jan 30, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Shelly Fyant
Shelly Fyant
DDemocratic
MT
91