HB 510, a withdrawn 2025 Montana bill, aimed to modernize Medicaid services for clients by requiring the Department of Public Health and Human Services to: (1) accept online/phone applications and electronic documents, (2) use plain language and translate materials into Montana's five most common languages, (3) provide mobile-friendly technology for client access, (4) offer hotline callback options with wait times, and (5) submit quarterly service reports to legislators. It also mandated reopening 10 public assistance offices by 2026 based on client demand and disenrollment data, with $3 million annually allocated for implementation. The bill directly affected Montana Medicaid clients, providers, and county offices by streamlining enrollment, reducing administrative errors, and improving accessibility. It was introduced on February 14, 2025, but withdrawn just days later under House Rule H30-50(3)(b).
HB 459 would amend Montana law to increase the number of physician assistants on the Board of Medical Examiners from one to two. This change directly affects the composition of the 13-member board, which oversees medical licensing and regulation in Montana. The bill specifically revises Section 2-15-1731 of the Montana Code to add a second physician assistant position to the existing board structure. The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but was withdrawn on February 14, 2025.
HB 133 would require hunters in Montana who purchase a license for game animals to report their hunting activity to the state wildlife department before obtaining a new license the following year. This bill directly affects all hunters buying game animal licenses, mandating pre-purchase reporting to track hunting participation. The department would have authority to establish reporting systems, deadlines, and penalties through rules. The bill was withdrawn by the House on February 4, 2025, before it could become law, and was not enacted.
HB 240 requires all digital map providers to update their electronic maps by August 1, 2025, to show current navigable river locations and mark historical river areas as "Private land surface owned by adjacent landowner. Permission required." It clarifies that public recreational use of rivers does not permit big game hunting from watercraft or across rivers, and hunting on islands (except for waterfowl using bows/crossbows) requires landowner permission. The bill also directs the state library to annually update its statewide map using data from the Department of Natural Resources to ensure accurate river mapping.
HB 170 would have required Montana state agencies to obtain legislative approval before submitting federal grant applications. Specifically, agencies must submit applications to the legislature (during session) or an interim committee (when legislature is adjourned) for review and concurrence before forwarding them to the federal government. The bill also mandated annual reports detailing all federal funding requests, including agency names, amounts, and legislative approval status. The bill was withdrawn on January 16, 2025, and did not advance further.
(H) Died in Process
(H) Died in Process
(H) Died in Process
(H) Died in Process
(S) Died in Standing Committee
(S) Died in Process
(H) Died in Standing Committee
