HB 528 revises Montana property tax rates for agricultural, residential, and commercial property. It lowers the tax rate for class three agricultural land from 2.16% to 1.7% of its productive capacity value, and reduces the tax rate for class four residential property from 1.35% to 0.76% of market value. Commercial property rates remain at 1.35% of market value but include specific adjustments for properties over $1.5 million in value. The bill applies retroactively to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and the 2025 reappraisal cycle.
HB 377 revises Montana law to ensure parents generally have access to their minor child's health care records. It requires health providers to give parents access to a child's health information within 3 days of a request (or provide contact details for the records' location), with exceptions for court-limited parental rights, child abuse investigations, or government guardianship. The bill also clarifies that minors who can consent to certain care (like mental health services) have exclusive control over information related to that specific care, removing a minor's ability to enforce privacy violations by non-HIPAA-covered providers. This primarily affects parents, minors seeking care without parental consent, and health care providers managing minors' records.
HB 702 creates a new crime for operating drones over Montana correctional facilities without permission, punishable by 1-5 years in prison. It revises assault laws to specifically include intentionally making bodily fluid contact with correctional staff, healthcare providers, or emergency responders during arrests, incarceration, or transport. The bill also updates rules for possessing or transferring prohibited items (like cellphones, drugs, or weapons) into prisons, with harsher penalties for weapons (up to 20 years) and drugs (up to 10 years), while adding clarity about notice requirements for minor contraband. These changes directly affect prison staff, inmates, visitors, and anyone near correctional facilities.
HB 469 revises state law regarding the recognition of out-of-state driver's licenses for non-residents operating motor vehicles. The bill clarifies that a non-resident's license is not valid if it belongs to a class of licenses issued exclusively to individuals unlawfully present in the United States. It mandates the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Justice to establish rules for identifying and classifying these specific out-of-state licenses.
HB 738 revises the procedural requirements for counties to change zoning boundaries or regulations. It mandates that counties must mail detailed notices to residents within affected districts 15-45 days before public hearings, including specific information like district boundaries and where regulations can be viewed online. Notices must also be posted in public places, published in local newspapers, and made available on county websites. This bill directly affects county commissioners, planning boards, and property owners who may be impacted by zoning changes.
HB 119 sought to establish the Montana Cattle Committee, a new entity composed of seven Montana cattle producers appointed by the governor. The committee would be responsible for planning and conducting research, promotion, and educational programs to benefit the state's cattle industry. To fund these activities, the bill proposed a cattle assessment to be collected from cattle sellers, which would first require approval through a referendum of those sellers. Funds from this assessment would be deposited into a dedicated cattle special revenue account for the committee's use.
HJ 57 is a study resolution requesting an interim committee to examine Montana's statewide public safety communications system, which supports first responders during extreme weather and disasters. The study will assess the system's effectiveness, funding needs (including a projected 2027 shortfall), interoperability with local/tribal/federal systems, and future upgrades like FBI-required encryption. It will report findings to the 70th Legislature by September 2026, focusing on how the system serves over 12,000 users across 74 towers and 15 dispatch centers. The resolution does not change laws but aims to inform future policy decisions.
HB 836 proposed creating a property tax deferral loan program for eligible senior citizens and active-duty military personnel in Montana. This program would allow qualifying homeowners to defer paying the portion of their property taxes that exceeds their 2022 property tax amount. The state's Board of Housing would provide these loans, which would accrue simple interest and become a lien on the primary residence. The loan, including interest, would generally be repaid when the property is sold or transferred, or upon the death of the homeowner, though a surviving spouse might be able to assume the loan.
HJ 58 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study to examine how Montana can better utilize school counselors to improve student outcomes. It directs a legislative committee to investigate counselor shortages, current student-counselor ratios, best practices from other states, and input from Montana counselors and education agencies. The study, required to report findings to the 70th Legislature by September 2026, does not create new law but aims to inform future policy. The resolution died in the House process on May 22, 2025, without becoming law.
HB 30 (Montana) would have required Montana courts to apply a "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard when reviewing challenges to state laws claiming they violate the Montana Constitution. This change would have directly affected anyone challenging a law in court - such as advocacy groups, citizens, or businesses - by making it significantly harder to prove a law unconstitutional. The bill amended Montana law to state that courts must uphold legislative acts unless challengers prove unconstitutionality "beyond a reasonable doubt," raising the burden from the previous standard. The bill died in the House process on May 22, 2025, and never became law.
HB 662 revises the Montana Driver Privacy Protection Act to strengthen privacy protections for individuals' motor vehicle records. The bill requires that "express consent" for disclosing personal information must be obtained on a specific form prescribed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. It also allows individuals to file individual or class action lawsuits against "requesters" who misuse this disclosed information. These lawsuits can seek punitive damages, costs, and reasonable attorney fees, and the department would be required to maintain a list of all requesters.
HB 947 requires most individual health insurance policies in Montana to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and their supplies for people diagnosed with type I or type II diabetes when medically necessary, as prescribed by a healthcare provider. The bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on diabetes severity or insulin dependence, and bans special deductibles or limits specifically for CGMs - though standard deductibles may still apply. This affects diabetes patients covered by individual disability, health, or membership insurance plans (excluding Medicare supplements, hospital indemnity, or long-term care policies). The law aims to ensure consistent access to these critical blood sugar monitoring tools without discriminatory coverage barriers.
