HB 220 would establish a refundable child tax credit for Montana resident taxpayers with children under age 5. It provides a $1,200 credit per qualifying child, phasing out for taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income over $56,000 (with a $50,000 phaseout threshold). The credit is refundable, meaning eligible families could receive it as a payment even if they owed no state income tax. The bill also adds the child tax credit to Montana’s required periodic review schedule for tax credits. The bill died in committee on May 22, 2025, and did not become law.
HB 919 is an act designed to implement provisions of House Bill No. 2. It amends state law regarding the Board of Investments, which is responsible for managing public funds. The bill requires the Board of Investments to perform its duties within a restricted fiduciary fund type, subject to specific state law restrictions. This change aims to ensure that the board manages investments under stricter guidelines for the responsible handling of funds.
HJ 65 is a joint resolution requesting Montana's legislature to conduct an interim study of current driving under the influence (DUI) laws. The study would examine Montana's DUI penalties, treatment options for offenders, and factors contributing to the state's high DUI rates (including cultural attitudes and transportation access), comparing Montana's approach to other states. It requires the committee to report findings to the 70th Legislature by September 2026. This resolution does not change existing laws but seeks to inform future policy decisions.
House Bill 258 (HB 258) aimed to revise laws concerning wolf hunting in Montana. The bill would have required the Fish and Wildlife Commission to authorize an annual wolf hunting season. Its main provision was to extend this wolf hunting season to conclude concurrently with the spring bear hunting season, allowing for specific regional adjustments by the commission. This legislation would have directly impacted wolf hunters and the state's wildlife management policies for wolves.
HB 766 revises the rules for disqualifying members of Montana's medical legal panel, which reviews medical malpractice cases. The bill adds specific grounds requiring disqualification, such as personal bias, financial interests in the case, or close relationships with involved parties (e.g., being a family member of a party or having a material witness role). It limits each party to three disqualification requests per panel member type (attorney or health care provider) and allows parties to waive disqualification after disclosure if they agree. This update clarifies when panel members must step aside to maintain impartiality in malpractice reviews.
HB 50 protects parents and pregnant women with drug use disorder by preventing child welfare investigations or custody actions solely based on positive drug test results. It amends Montana law to shield individuals seeking treatment or prenatal care from criminal charges related to drug use, and prohibits using drug test results alone to initiate child abuse cases or remove children from homes. The bill directly affects pregnant women, parents, healthcare providers, and child welfare systems by ensuring medical care access isn't penalized. Key provisions include immunity for seeking overdose help and requiring medical evaluation as the primary factor in child welfare decisions.
HJ 54 is a joint resolution requesting Montana's Legislative Council to conduct an interim study on waste-to-energy technologies. The study would examine whether waste-to-energy facilities could supplement Montana's energy resources, analyze economic impacts on citizens and industries, investigate global technologies (like incineration and gasification), and assess environmental/social effects compared to traditional waste management. It requires a final report to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026. This procedural resolution (not a law) died in the House on May 22, 2025, and would not directly affect policy until after the study concludes.
HB 822 proposes changing Montana's constitutional amendment process by raising the voter approval threshold from a simple majority to 60% (three-fifths) of votes cast in a statewide election. This would directly affect Montana voters who would need to approve constitutional amendments submitted via legislative referendum starting with the 2026 election. The bill amends Article XIV, Section 8 of the Montana Constitution to require this higher approval rate, while maintaining the existing two-thirds legislative vote requirement for proposing amendments. The bill died in committee on May 22, 2025, and was never enacted into law.
HB 803 requires claimants in asbestos lawsuits to disclose all related asbestos trust claims within 30 days of filing their case, including any pending or settled claims. It mandates that claimants provide defendants and courts with all trust-related materials (like proof of claim forms and medical records) and prohibits claiming privilege over these documents. The bill also allows defendants to seek discovery of asbestos trust materials, which become automatically admissible in court to establish exposure and liability. Finally, it permits defendants to offset awarded damages by the amount already paid or owed by asbestos trusts, with offsets distributed proportionally among liable defendants.
HJ 12 is a Montana joint resolution requesting the U.S. Congress remove federal requirements for electric vehicle (EV) purchases. It cites Montana-specific challenges like limited rural charging infrastructure, reduced EV range in cold weather, and lack of all-terrain EV options, arguing these make EVs impractical for Montanans' needs. The resolution does not create new law but asks Congress to eliminate federal EV mandates, allowing Montanans to choose vehicle types freely. It was referred to a committee but died in 2025 without further action.
HB 334 sought to revise laws concerning disaster and emergency funding. The bill proposed to increase the statutory appropriation available to the Governor's office for declared emergencies from $16 million to $22 million per two-year period, effective July 1, 2025. It also would have allowed the Department of Military Affairs to use up to $3 million annually from this fund for disaster and emergency services activities, such as planning, training, and response, without a formal governor's declaration. Unspent funds at the end of each biennium would continue to be transferred to the fire suppression account.
HB 569 sought to revise laws related to perjury and false swearing. The bill proposed changes to the penalties for these offenses, introducing mandatory minimum jail sentences and adjusting maximum terms and fines. For perjury, the punishment would shift from state prison to county jail, while still requiring a minimum 6-month term. For false swearing, new mandatory minimums for jail time and revised fines were introduced. Additionally, the bill mandated that credible allegations of both perjury and false swearing be investigated by an agency independent of the judiciary.
