HB 41 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Generally revise dangerous drug schedule

HB 41 adds gabapentin to Montana's Schedule V list of controlled substances under the "depressants" category. This change directly affects medical providers who prescribe gabapentin (used for nerve pain, seizures, and other conditions), pharmacists who dispense it, and patients using the medication. The bill amends Montana Code § 50-32-232 to explicitly include gabapentin - identified by its chemical name "1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid" - in Schedule V depressants alongside drugs like pregabalin. This policy update standardizes gabapentin's regulatory classification without altering its medical use or prescribing rules.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Feb 2025
Introduced Dec 7, 2024 Signed Feb 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0041_2(3).pdf HB0041_2(4).pdf · 1 edit
MINOR
This bill amends the state's list of controlled substances to include Gabapentin in Schedule V, requiring stricter regulation of the drug. The document also includes minor formatting adjustments to the title page and the removal of a closing marker, but these do not alter the legal substance of the act. The primary impact is that Gabapentin will now be subject to the same prescription and dispensing rules as other Schedule V controlled substances.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of Schedule V controlled substances to include Gabapentin, thereby extending regulatory oversight to this specific medication.
ELIGIBILITY

Gabapentin is added to the list of drugs classified as Schedule V controlled substances.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 15, 2025 · House Jan 20, 2025

How they voted

462
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 50
Feb 15, 2025
D Democratic18
17 Yea 1
94% Yea
R Republican32
29 Yea 2 Nay 1
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
39
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Feb 27, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 15, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-2-2)
senate
Feb 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Judiciary
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Jan 20, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (85-13-2)
house
Jan 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
lower
Jan 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
lower
Dec 20, 2024
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary
lower
Dec 7, 2024
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Curtis Schomer
Curtis Schomer
RRepublican
MT
48