SB 466 Montana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Establish factors when determining best interest of child

SB 466 establishes a comprehensive set of factors that courts must consider when determining the "best interests of a child" in any legal circumstance. This bill directly affects children, parents, and other parties involved in such proceedings, particularly those related to custody. It mandates consideration of factors including the child's physical and emotional safety, developmental needs, parental capacity, the child's preferences, family relationships, and the stability of their home environment. While courts must consider these factors, they are not required to assign a specific weight to each but must articulate the basis for their decision.
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
May 2025
Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB0466_X(2).pdf SB0466_X(3).pdf · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill text shows minor formatting adjustments to the title, removing a period at the end of the phrase 'BEST INTERESTS OF A CHILD.' The document also includes a placeholder for a section number and ends with a standard 'END' marker, indicating these are likely administrative or drafting updates rather than substantive policy changes.
TECHNICAL

Removed a period from the end of the bill's title.

Added a placeholder for a specific section number in the applicability clause.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 7, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

490
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Mar 7, 2025
D Democratic18
17 Yea 1
94% Yea
R Republican32
32 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
42
Key actions
9
Committee
6
May 8, 2025
Signed into law
(S) Signed by Governor
upper
Apr 29, 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 (99-0-1)
house
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Report - (H) Human Services
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
(H) Committee Executive Action - (H) Human Services
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Committee
(H) Referred to Committee - (H) Human Services
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (49-0-1)
senate
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Report - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
(S) Committee Executive Action - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
(S) Referred to Committee - (S) Public Health, Welfare and Safety
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
(S) Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Dennis Lenz
Dennis Lenz
RRepublican
MT
25