HJ 8 is a study resolution requesting an interim committee to examine Montana's electric vehicle (EV) registration fees and charging station taxes. It directly affects EV owners, who currently pay an annual fee $152.46 higher than the average gas vehicle owner's fuel tax. The resolution directs the committee to assess the fairness of these fees compared to gas vehicles, review other states' approaches, and develop a more equitable system to address road funding gaps. The study, required to report to the 70th Legislature by September 2026, died in process on May 22, 2025, and never became law.
HB 316 is a constitutional amendment bill that would redefine "person" in Montana's constitution to include all humans from fertilization or conception onward, regardless of developmental stage. It would specifically state that unintentional harm to an unborn child by a mother cannot form the basis for a legal claim. If passed, the amendment would require the legislature to create implementing laws and would be submitted to Montana voters in the November 2026 general election. The bill died in committee during the 2025 legislative session and has not advanced to a vote.
HJ 72 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study on how Montana's Department of Transportation (DOT) shares personal information from driver records. It directs a committee to examine why and how driver data is shared with government agencies or businesses, what specific information is disclosed, who receives it, and how this impacts Montanans' privacy. The study must also assess if data sharing generates revenue for the DOT and how the department tracks these disclosures. The resolution requires the study's findings to be reported to the 70th Legislature by September 2026. As a procedural request for analysis, it does not change current law or directly affect residents.
This joint resolution (HJ 49) requests an interim study of U.S. Highway 212 east of Billings, Montana, which has the state's highest rural roadway fatality rate (2013-2022) and faces issues like poor road conditions, limited winter maintenance, and lack of cell service. The study would investigate these safety problems, gather data from Montana DOT and local communities, and examine solutions used on other rural roads. It does not create new laws but aims to develop recommendations for safer conditions. The resolution died in committee in May 2025 and never became law.
House Resolution 8 is a procedural bill that recognizes and details a historical account of racism and bigotry within the Democratic Party. The resolution outlines various historical events, figures, and policies associated with the party, from its founding in 1828 through the early 20th century. It describes connections to institutional slavery, the Indian Removal Act, Jim Crow laws, and support for the Ku Klux Klan. This resolution serves as a historical reflection and does not enact new policy.
HB 912 proposes creating a new secure forensic facility in Montana, overseen by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. This facility would provide care, treatment, and security for up to 70 individuals involved in the legal system due to mental illness, including those needing competency restoration or forensic evaluations. The bill allocates $60 million from the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Fund to plan, construct, and equip this facility, while also expanding the fund's uses to support new behavioral health infrastructure.
HB 174 aimed to revise laws related to assault by expanding its definition. The bill proposed that a person commits assault if they purposely or knowingly provide specific dangerous drugs, alcohol, or other listed substances, such as rohypnol, to another individual without their consent. This change would affect individuals who administer these substances without permission. The bill included exemptions for authorized medical providers, guardians, and the administration of opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone.
This Montana bill (HB 465) would have revised foreclosure rules for property liens by requiring contractors or service providers to file a specific "notice of action" within 90 days after a 2-year deadline for foreclosure lawsuits. If this notice wasn't filed, the lien would automatically expire, directly affecting contractors seeking payment and homeowners facing lien claims. The bill focused on clarifying procedural requirements for foreclosure actions under existing law (Section 71-3-562, MCA). It died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.
HB 301 changes when property owners must file claims for damage to their land. It sets the start date for the legal time limit as when the damaging act finishes AND the owner knows or should know about the injury. This means the clock begins running immediately upon these conditions, not later when damage is discovered. If a claim isn't filed within this period, it is permanently barred for both the current owner and all future owners of the property.
HB 827 aimed to revise the taxation of Social Security benefits at the state level in Montana. The bill proposed to modify how the federal calculation for taxing Social Security benefits is applied when determining an individual's state income tax. This change would have directly affected Montana residents receiving Social Security benefits by potentially altering the portion of those benefits subject to state income tax. The bill included provisions for a delayed effective and applicability date.
HB 926 proposed revising state finance laws by directing the state treasurer to transfer all unobligated funds from the debt and liability free account. These funds would primarily be moved into the coal severance tax permanent fund. A key provision stipulated that if Senate Bill No. 90 did not pass, these funds would instead be transferred to the Montana school facilities fund. The bill also included a small appropriation of $100 from the general fund to the Department of Revenue for implementation.
HB 839 proposes a new $500 income tax credit for certain long-time residents of the state. To qualify, a taxpayer must have resided in the state for the prior 10 years, defined as at least 7 months per year, and have an income less than $100,000. This credit is non-refundable and cannot be carried forward to other tax years. If enacted, it would apply to income tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.
