HB 705 revises Montana's election laws to require county and city central committees to notify representatives of upcoming county conventions via email instead of physical mail. The bill directly affects local political party committees responsible for organizing conventions, changing their communication method for convention notices. Key provisions amend Section 13-38-205, MCA, to specify that the presiding officer must send the convention call "through electronic mail" to precinct committee representatives at least four days before the event. This is a procedural change focused solely on streamlining notification processes for party committees.
HB 890 aimed to enhance the data available in the Criminal Justice Data Warehouse by requiring specific state agencies to contribute criminal history information. The bill mandated the Department of Justice, Department of Corrections, and the Judicial Branch to collaborate by October 1, 2025, to determine the most efficient way to provide criminal history data for district court convictions to the warehouse. If no consensus was reached, the Department of Corrections would be responsible for providing this information, ensuring convicted offenders' names are linked to their criminal histories. The bill also included a $2,000 appropriation for each of these three agencies to facilitate their collaboration.
House Bill 94 aimed to revise Montana's laws concerning the confidentiality of tax records. It proposed allowing the Department of Revenue to share individual tax return information with the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. This information sharing was intended to assist the Commissioner in investigating, detecting, and preventing noncompliance, fraud, and abuse under state securities and insurance laws.
HB 541 aimed to revise Montana's driving under the influence (DUI) laws. It proposed adding a new offense for individuals who drive a vehicle while under the influence of both alcohol and a controlled substance, as designated in state law. This change would have directly affected drivers by expanding the conditions under which they could be charged with a DUI. The bill also intended to establish corresponding penalties for this specific offense.
HB 395 proposed updating Montana's legal definitions related to voting eligibility for individuals with mental health conditions. It aimed to revise the definitions of "unsound mind" and "mental health facility" in voting law, specifically amending sections of Montana Code Annotated (MCA) that govern voter eligibility. The bill did not change voting procedures or eligibility rules itself but focused solely on clarifying terminology used in existing voting statutes. As a definitional amendment, it was considered procedural rather than substantive. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.
HB 169 would have revised Montana's judicial conduct rules to permit judges and judicial candidates to engage in political activities previously restricted. It allowed them to attend partisan events, seek endorsements from political groups, campaign with party designations, make public endorsements for nonjudicial candidates, and solicit political contributions. The bill aimed to align judicial conduct standards with broader political participation norms. This legislation died in process in the Montana House on May 22, 2025, and did not become law.
House Bill 33 allows state agencies to summarily dismiss petitions requesting new or changed rules if the issue is outside of the agency's legal authority to regulate. This means an agency is not required to advance a petition if it doesn't have the power to act on that specific subject. The bill modifies the existing process for handling rulemaking petitions, enabling agencies to quickly reject those that are beyond their scope. This change directly affects state agencies and individuals or legislators who submit rulemaking petitions.
HB 289 aimed to revise Montana's crime laws by expanding the definition of the offense of endangering the welfare of children. The bill sought to include situations where a child is exposed to the production, manufacture, or direct presence of fentanyl, heroin, or cocaine. This would apply to individuals who knowingly engage in these activities in locations where children might reasonably be present. Violations under this specific provision would be classified as a felony, carrying potential penalties of imprisonment, fines, or both.
HB 688 would require counties that voted against legalizing recreational marijuana in 2020 (via Initiative Measure 190) to approve specific marijuana business types - like dispensaries, cultivation, or manufacturing - through local elections before new businesses can operate. Existing medical marijuana dispensaries could continue operating without new local approval, while new businesses would need local permission for categories such as adult-use dispensaries or testing labs. The bill also mandates specific ballot language for local votes on prohibiting these businesses and exempts counties that already approved Initiative Measure 190. Counties voting "no" on IM 190 must hold elections to allow or ban business types, with results requiring local government action to permit operations.
HB 313 aimed to establish a grant program to provide funding for public swimming pools operated by local governments and nonprofit organizations. It would have created a "public swimming pool infrastructure account" and appropriated $5 million from the state general fund, to be administered by the Department of Commerce. These grants were intended to support capital construction, maintenance, repair projects, and equipment purchases for eligible aquatic facilities. Grants of $25,000 or more would have required a 1:5 match, and funding was limited to $1 million per county and $500,000 per project.
HB 116 aimed to allow attorneys, particularly public defenders, to appear remotely in court proceedings. The bill would have required all courts to establish a consistent process for these remote appearances. Public defenders would have been permitted to appear remotely for "nonsubstantive hearings," such as arraignments or bond hearings, where the case's final outcome isn't decided. However, a court could still order an attorney to appear in person if there was "good cause," such as a lack of technological resources, and provided advance notice.
HB 185 directs the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to implement continuous eligibility for children under six years old in the Healthy Montana Kids plan. This means eligible children would remain enrolled in the program until their sixth birthday, regardless of changes in family income or other circumstances that might otherwise make them ineligible. DPHHS is required to apply for the necessary federal waivers and state plan amendments by July 1, 2025, and implement the continuous eligibility within six months of federal approval. The bill aims to provide consistent health coverage for young children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
