Revising the fund structure and use of employment security account
HB 656 revises the use of the state's Employment Security Account and transfers the Office of Community Service. The bill amends state law to allow funds from the Employment Security Account to be used for administering the Office of Community Service and for enforcing state and federal anti-discrimination laws. Additionally, it moves the Office of Community Service from the Governor's office to the Department of Labor and Industry.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 21, 2025
Signed May 5, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB0656_X(1).pdf
→
HB0656_X(2).pdf
·
2 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to streamline the title by removing the phrase 'Office of' from the list of funded entities, ensuring consistency in naming. A new provision was added to explicitly authorize funding for expanding both full-time and part-time service opportunities for all citizens, with a specific emphasis on youth and older Montanans. This change broadens the bill's scope to include targeted support for these specific demographic groups within the employment security and community service framework.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include funding for expanding service opportunities for youth and older Montanans.
TECHNICAL
Removed the words 'Office of' from the title to standardize the name of the Commission for Human Rights.
SCOPE
Added a requirement to expand full-time and part-time service opportunities specifically for youth and older Montanans.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2025 · House Mar 7, 2025
How they voted
50–0
Passed
Total votes 50
Apr 15, 2025
D
Democratic18
100% Yea
R
Republican32
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
54
Key actions
9
Committee
7
May 1, 2025
Signed into law
(H) Signed by Governor
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0)
senate
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Mar 7, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (98-1-1)
house
Feb 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
(H) Rereferred to Committee - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Feb 22, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) State Administration
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced
(H) Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Ken Walsh
RRepublican
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