HB 541 Montana House · 2025 Regular Session

Revise DUI laws to include controlled substances

HB 541 aimed to revise Montana's driving under the influence (DUI) laws. It proposed adding a new offense for individuals who drive a vehicle while under the influence of both alcohol and a controlled substance, as designated in state law. This change would have directly affected drivers by expanding the conditions under which they could be charged with a DUI. The bill also intended to establish corresponding penalties for this specific offense.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 18, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB0541_1(5).pdf HB0541_2.pdf · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill expands the definition of driving under the influence to include the use of controlled substances in Schedules I through V AND II, while explicitly excluding marijuana unless it is prescribed to the driver. This change broadens the scope of offenses to cover a wider range of drugs but maintains a specific exemption for medical marijuana users. Additionally, the bill includes a technical amendment to the penalty section, adding a provision that allows the remainder of an imprisonment sentence to be suspended for up to one year.
Scope change
The bill's scope of prohibited substances was expanded to include Schedule II controlled substances, but eligibility for the offense was narrowed by excluding prescribed marijuana.
DEFINITION

The definition of 'controlled substance' was updated to include substances in Schedules I through V AND II, whereas the previous version only listed Schedules I through V.

A specific exclusion was added stating that the offense does not apply to marijuana that is prescribed to the person.

ENFORCEMENT

A new provision was added allowing judges to suspend the remainder of an imprisonment sentence for up to one year.

Floor votes · House Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

6137
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 100
Mar 3, 2025
D Democratic42
4 Yea 37 Nay 1
88% Nay
R Republican58
57 Yea 1
98% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Mar 28, 2025
Amended
(S) Tabled in Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Mar 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Judiciary
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Judiciary
upper
Mar 3, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (61-37-2)
house
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Judiciary
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Steve Kelly
Steve Kelly
RRepublican
MT
9