SB 194 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Eliminate the board of public assistance

SB 194 eliminates the Board of Public Assistance and revises the process for appealing public assistance claims in Montana. Under this bill, individuals seeking to appeal decisions related to food stamps, cash assistance, or Medicaid will now direct their requests for a fair hearing to the relevant department, rather than the Board. The Board of Public Assistance will remain operational to resolve all appeals filed before the bill's effective date, with its full repeal scheduled for October 1, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed May 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0194_1(7).pdf → SB0194_X.pdf · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill eliminates the Board of Public Assistance and repeals the section governing its quasi-judicial powers. It amends the right of appeal procedures to direct appeals to the department instead of the board, while maintaining the board's authority to handle pending appeals until a specified effective date. The repeal of the board's section takes effect on October 1, 2025, while appeal procedures apply to new cases filed after the act's passage.

Scope change

The bill narrows the scope by removing the Board of Public Assistance entirely and transferring its functions to the department, with a transition period for existing appeals.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the Board of Public Assistance as an entity and eliminated the legal section establishing its quasi-judicial allocation powers.

Modified appeal procedures to direct applicants to the department instead of the board for fair hearings.

TIMELINE

Added a transition provision requiring the board to remain operational until pending appeals are resolved.

Modified effective dates, with the repeal section taking effect on October 1, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 4, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

45–5

Passed

Total votes 50

Feb 4, 2025

D Democratic18

13 Yea 5 Nay

72% Yea

R Republican32

32 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 5, 2025

Signed into law

(S) Signed by Governor

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Signed by Speaker

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

(S) Signed by President

upper

Apr 11, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (56-43-1)

house

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Committee Report - (H) Human Services

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Human Services

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Amended

(H) Tabled in Committee - (H) Human Services

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Human Services

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (45-5)

senate

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

(S) Committee Report - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Committee

(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

(S) Introduced

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors