SB 90 would provide property tax relief to Montana homeowners with primary residences by using lodging and rental car tax revenue. Homeowners would need to apply for certification by March 1, proving they live in the home at least 7 months yearly and that the property value is under $1 million. Counties would apply the credit directly to property tax bills using annual funding based on certified residences, with penalties for false applications. The bill specifies that assistance won’t affect local mill rates and requires Department of Revenue certification of eligible primary residences.
SB 259 revises Montana's child safety laws by defining "imminent danger" as a situation where a child faces a high probability of death or serious injury, clarifying that factors like a parent's disability or a positive drug test alone do not meet this standard. The bill requires child protection agencies to provide parents with detailed notifications within 24 hours of a child's removal, including the reason for removal, legal rights, and information about court hearings. It also mandates that agencies make reasonable efforts to protect children without removing them from a parent who is a victim of domestic violence (such as assault or strangulation), while providing referrals to domestic violence programs. Additionally, the bill prohibits placing children in jail and requires law enforcement to share body camera footage with the court at the first hearing if involved in a child's removal.
SB 187 would revise Montana's Medicaid program by eliminating the termination date for the Medicaid expansion (making it permanent) and adding new coverage for auxiliary personnel services (like community health integration and illness navigation) and traditional healing services (provided by tribal or Indian health facilities). These changes would directly affect Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly in rural and tribal communities, by expanding access to these specific services. The bill also amends existing Medicaid service provisions and repeals outdated sections of the law to implement these updates.
SB 215 revises Montana's public school funding system by redefining the "basic system of free quality public schools" to explicitly include open enrollment, student achievement tracking, and transparency in spending. It requires the legislature to consider specific factors when setting funding - such as student needs (including special education, English learners, and American Indian students), school density, and teacher retention - while mandating that funding follows students across district lines during open enrollment. The bill also directs the funding formula to use current-year enrollment data, include annual cost-of-living adjustments, and clearly show how funds impact student outcomes. These changes apply to all public school districts in Montana, aiming to make funding more equitable and accountable.
SB 199 revises Montana's Medicaid expansion program (the Montana HELP Act) by introducing monthly "taxpayer integrity fees" for participants meeting specific asset thresholds. It requires fees based on excess real estate value ($5,000+ above homestead limits), vehicle equity ($20,000+ combined value), or agricultural land taxable value ($1,500+ annually), with a base fee of $100 plus $4 per $1,000 over limits. The bill also updates community engagement rules, mandating 80 monthly hours of work-related activities for 19-55-year-olds (with exemptions for medical conditions, caregivers, students, and others). These changes directly affect Medicaid expansion participants owning significant assets or required to meet work participation standards.
SB 517 would require candidates for irrigation district commissioner to reside within the district they seek to represent. This bill amends Montana law to mandate that commissioner candidates live in the district and clarifies that voters in a specific district division (based on land ownership) elect commissioners for that division. The law would take effect immediately upon passage. This change directly affects individuals running for irrigation district commissioner positions across Montana.
SB 146, the "Private Property Protection Act," would have limited Montana government actions restricting private property use to only those demonstrably necessary for public health or safety. It would allow property owners to challenge restrictions (like zoning rules or fees) in court if they fail to meet strict standards, requiring governments to prove the restriction is the least restrictive option for a compelling public interest. The bill directly affects private property owners and local/state governments by creating a legal process for contesting regulations. However, it died in the legislative process in May 2025 and never became law.
SB 219 would have amended Montana's Board of Housing composition to require at least one member to be an enrolled tribal member of a federally recognized Montana tribe and one member to be a veteran of the U.S. armed forces. This change would directly affect the seven-member Board of Housing, which oversees housing programs and allocations. The bill proposed adding these specific representation requirements to Section 2-15-1814 of Montana Code Annotated, replacing the current language about "at least one" tribal member and veteran with explicit mandatory positions. The bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and did not become law.
SB 92 would make membership in Montana's State Bar voluntary for licensed attorneys, removing the requirement to join or pay dues as a condition of maintaining their law license. Currently, Montana lawyers must pay dues to the State Bar to practice, a rule established by the Supreme Court in 1974. The bill cites the 2018 *Janus v. AFSCME* Supreme Court decision, which held that government workers cannot be forced to pay union dues, arguing that lawyers similarly have a First Amendment right to choose association. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.
SB 139 would remove an existing exemption that allows clergy members (like priests or ministers) to avoid reporting suspected child abuse or neglect if they learned about it during a confidential religious confession or counseling session. The bill directly affects Montana clergy who serve in religious roles, requiring them to report all suspected abuse just like other mandated reporters (such as teachers or doctors). It eliminates the current legal protection that lets clergy refuse to report based on confidentiality from religious communications, making them subject to the same mandatory reporting duties as other professionals. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment, changing Montana law to require clergy to report suspected child abuse without exception.
SB 145 would have required education membership organizations and associations (like school district groups or teacher associations) that receive public funding to hold public meetings and make their records accessible to the public, following the same standards as government entities. It directly affects these education groups, mandating transparency similar to public government meetings. The bill’s key provision, if enacted, would have required all meetings and records of such organizations to be open to the public. However, the bill died in process in May 2025 after failing to advance beyond committee.
SB 131 would repeal a provision (Section 13-37-403, MCA) that established a "constituent services account" allowing Montana legislators to set aside state funds for direct services to residents. The bill specifically removes the legal authority for this account, which previously permitted legislators to use allocated funds for constituent assistance and donate leftover money to charities. This repeal would directly affect legislators who utilized this account for constituent services, eliminating the specific funding mechanism. The bill contained no new funding or policy changes beyond removing this existing provision.
