SB 325 would have created Montana's first state-run family and medical leave insurance program. It would have established an insurance fund funded by mandatory contributions from both employers and employees (and optional contributions from self-employed individuals), providing wage replacement benefits for up to 12 weeks per year for qualifying medical or family needs like childbirth, serious illness, or caring for a family member. The program would have directly affected Montana workers who paid into the fund, their employers, and self-employed individuals who opted in, with benefits contingent on fund solvency. The bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and was never enacted into law.
SB 513 requires Montana's Department of Public Health and Human Services to expand the Family Education and Support Services Program by July 1, 2026, to serve all qualified families applying to the program - matching the FY2016 service level. The bill mandates annual reports to the legislature detailing program benefits, how families prepare for future healthcare programs, and comparisons between served and unserved families. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and terminates June 30, 2027. This bill directly affects families applying to the program and the state agency administering it.
SB 203 would increase Montana's income tax thresholds, meaning more income would be taxed at the lower 4.7% rate instead of the higher 5.9% rate. Specifically, it raises the income level before the higher rate applies to $200,000 for joint filers, $150,000 for heads of household, and $100,000 for single filers. This change affects all Montana individual income taxpayers, potentially reducing their tax burden for income falling within the new, higher thresholds. The bill also includes retroactive application to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
SB 565 creates a permanent Montana Endowment for Early Childhood, funded by quarterly state transfers and fees from renewed childcare facility licenses. It establishes a 7-member board (including state agency staff and community representatives) to manage the endowment and allocate funds from the Montana Early Childhood Account. The bill directs funds toward grants for childcare workforce development, quality improvements (like safety upgrades), affordability programs (including subsidies), and emergency assistance for childcare providers. These funds directly support early childhood programs, providers, and families accessing childcare services across Montana.
SB 417 would require most Montana health insurance plans to cover certain injectable medicines prescribed for glucose control or weight loss in adults diagnosed with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or obesity. Coverage must be deemed medically necessary by a physician and requires participants to join a lifestyle management program to continue treatment. The bill applies to individual and group health insurance policies but excludes Medicare Advantage plans. It amends Montana insurance law to mandate this coverage as a standard benefit.
SB 445, "Montana Transparency in Energy Economics Act," would have required investor-owned utilities to create a public energy dashboard by June 2026 showing real-time data on power sources, grid contributions, and costs per megawatt hour. Public utilities would have needed to provide quarterly reports detailing power sources (like coal, wind, solar), consumption by customer class, and costs. The bill directly affects residential and small commercial customers (defined as using ~750 kWh monthly) by making energy billing costs more visible. However, the bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and never became law.
SB 295 would restore Montana injured workers' right to choose their own treating physician for initial treatment and ongoing care under workers' compensation, without being forced to use a managed care organization (MCO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) without consent. The bill requires insurers to allow workers to select a physician from a designated list for initial treatment and to change physicians with the insurer's approval (with mediation available if approval is denied). It also mandates that insurers provide individual written notice (not workplace postings) before referring workers to an MCO or PPO. This directly affects injured workers seeking medical treatment for work-related injuries in Montana, giving them more control over their healthcare decisions.
This bill would prevent social media platforms and other free online spaces (called "digital public squares") from removing users or censoring their content without legal justification. It bans actions like shadowbanning, algorithmic suppression, or restricting content visibility, while allowing platforms to show advertisements. Users could sue platforms for damages if they violate these rules. The law applies specifically to free digital platforms, not paid services, and defines key terms like "deplatforming" as removing users without their request.
SB 47 requires Montana's legislative committees to review proposed statewide ballot initiatives after a court determines they are legally sufficient. This bill directly affects initiative proponents (who submit proposals), the secretary of state (who administers ballot processes), and legislative committees (who must now conduct a mandatory review). The key mechanism adds a new step: if a court finds an initiative legally valid, the secretary of state must refer it to legislative committees for review before finalizing ballot language. This changes the existing process, which previously only required attorney general review after court approval. The bill aims to strengthen legislative oversight of ballot measures before they appear on voter ballots.
Montana's SJ 31 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study of the state's mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting system. It directs a committee to examine how to improve training for mandatory reporters (like teachers and healthcare workers), reduce unnecessary investigations, and explore alternative support services instead of automatic reporting. The study will focus on distinguishing when to report versus provide resources, minimizing reports based on reporter discomfort or bias, and identifying prevention-focused alternatives. The goal is to better protect children while reducing stigma and resource strain on families and the Child and Family Services Division. The study was scheduled to conclude by September 2026, with findings to be reported to the 70th Legislature.
SB 298 revises Montana's election administration by granting the secretary of state direct supervisory authority over county election administrators. It requires county election administrators (typically county clerks) to comply with the secretary's directions regarding voter registration, election management, and reporting. The bill clarifies that county clerks serve as default election administrators and must provide requested information on election operations. These changes, effective July 1, 2025, aim to standardize election oversight across counties.
SB 443, which died in process in May 2025, proposed to regulate THC levels in cannabis products sold in Montana. It would have set a maximum 15% total THC concentration for all products (including flower, edibles, and concentrates) and limited package sizes (e.g., 100mg THC per edible serving, 800mg per package). The bill directly affected licensed dispensaries and consumers by restricting product potency and packaging, while allowing higher-potency products for registered medical cardholders. These changes aimed to reduce risks associated with high-potency THC but never became law.
