SB 338 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Revise workers' compensation insurance related to who may receive payments

SB 338 authorizes a "benefits administrator" to receive workers' compensation payments on behalf of minor children or individuals deemed incompetent. This expands the list of parties who can receive such payments, which previously included parents, guardians, or conservators. The bill grants the workers' compensation judge the authority to appoint and terminate these benefits administrators. Parties can petition the judge for this appointment without needing to satisfy other dispute resolution requirements first.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Signed Apr 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0338_1(4).pdf SB0338_X.pdf · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the title and effective date to reflect that a Workers' Compensation Judge can now appoint a 'benefits administrator' to manage payments for minors or incompetent persons without needing prior dispute resolution. It amends existing laws to clarify that these administrators are appointed directly by the judge, streamlining the process for vulnerable individuals to receive their benefits.
Scope change
The bill expands the procedural scope by allowing the appointment of a benefits administrator before dispute resolution requirements are met, whereas previously such appointments might have been contingent on resolving other disputes first.
REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for parties to satisfy dispute resolution steps before petitioning for a benefits administrator.

DEFINITION

Clarified that a benefits administrator is a person appointed by the workers' compensation judge to pursue benefits or receive payments on behalf of a child under 18 or an incompetent person.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from 'passage and approval' to 'immediate'.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting inconsistencies, bill numbering, and title text between the draft and enrolled versions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2025 · House Apr 1, 2025

How they voted

500
Passed
Total votes 50
Mar 3, 2025
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Apr 16, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Signed by Speaker
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Signed by President
upper
Apr 1, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (99-0-1)
house
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Business and Labor
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0)
senate
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Business, Labor and Economic Affairs
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Greg Hertz
Greg Hertz
RRepublican
MT
7