This bill 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, if prescribed by a healthcare provider as medically necessary. Insurers cannot deny coverage based on the stage of diabetes or insulin dependency. The coverage must include standard deductibles and coinsurance but cannot impose special cost limits unique to CGM use. This applies to individual disability, health, and membership plans, excluding Medicare supplements, hospital indemnity, and long-term care policies.
This bill (LC 1247) allows Montana chiropractors to optionally apply for a license endorsement enabling them to prescribe specific non-controlled, non-scheduled medications for musculoskeletal treatment. Chiropractors who obtain this endorsement may prescribe over-the-counter pain relievers, muscle relaxants, topical anti-inflammatories, and certain steroids - drugs currently not requiring a prescription but previously inaccessible to them. The endorsement requires pharmacology education and adherence to board-established protocols, but it is optional; chiropractors may continue practicing without it. The bill amends Montana law to clarify that chiropractic practice now includes this limited prescriptive authority for approved medications, without mandating it for all practitioners.
This bill (LC 4323) authorizes Montana's governor to negotiate agreements with federally recognized tribal governments regarding marijuana regulation. The agreements would cover shared issues like law enforcement, commercial sales (including tax exemptions for marijuana grown on tribal land), and cross-border commerce. Tribal businesses must still comply with state licensing when interacting with non-tribal entities. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill creates a $400 property tax credit for Montana homeowners who lived in their primary residence for at least 7 months in 2024, capped at the actual 2024 property taxes paid. The credit will be applied directly to the 2025 property tax bill as a reduction, funded by increased lodging and rental car taxes. Homeowners must apply electronically (July 15-August 15, 2025) or by mail with proof of ownership and residency, and the credit is limited to single-family homes, condos, or mobile homes within 1 acre of land. Counties will distribute the credit through property tax bills, with penalties for false applications.
This joint resolution (LC 4106) requests an interim study of Montana's landlord-tenant laws and mobile home lot rental laws. It directs a committee to examine whether these laws are outdated, compare them to other states' policies, and assess impacts of private equity ownership on housing affordability and tenant protections. The study will gather input from renters, landlords, mobile home residents, and housing experts. Findings must be reported to the 70th Legislature by September 2026. This resolution does not change existing law but sets up a review process for potential future reforms.
This bill establishes clear rules for utilities (like power, gas, and cable companies) to place infrastructure - such as pipes, cables, or conduits - across railroad rights-of-way in Montana. It requires utilities to submit a 30-day notice with a detailed application and pay a one-time crossing fee (capped at $3,000 or $10 per linear foot of railroad property used) plus an annual fee (capped at 10% of the original fee or $300). Railroads cannot impose arbitrary fee increases, and the bill prohibits mechanic’s liens on utility infrastructure. These provisions directly affect utilities seeking to cross railroad land and railroads managing those crossings.
Montana's LC 3865 establishes a refundable child tax credit of $1,000 per qualifying child under age 5 for eligible residents. To claim it, taxpayers must have earned income, a valid Social Security number for each child, and meet income limits ($35,000 single/head of household, $65,000 married filing jointly). The credit is refundable - meaning families can receive cash even if they owe no state tax - and adjusts annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. This policy directly affects Montana parents with young children who meet income and documentation requirements.
Montana's LC 4182 establishes a 17-member Rare Disease Advisory Council within the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The council includes diverse members representing patients, caregivers, healthcare providers (like physicians and geneticists), researchers, pharmaceutical companies, insurers, and state agencies to address rare disease challenges. Its key duties include holding public hearings, developing policy recommendations for better diagnosis and treatment access, publishing resources online, and identifying research gaps. The council will report annually to the department and legislature, aiming to improve care coordination for Montanans affected by rare diseases (defined as conditions impacting fewer than 200,000 people nationally). The bill creates this permanent advisory body without mandating new state-funded programs.
Montana's LC 3618 would create a state-run trade office in Israel to promote economic partnerships between Montana businesses and Israeli companies. The office, staffed by at least one person, aims to boost trade in key Montana-aligned sectors like agriculture (pulse crops, meats), technology (photonics, quantum computing), and cultural exchanges. It allocates $500,000 from the general fund for the 2025-2027 biennium, with the office terminating on June 30, 2033. The bill explicitly states the office is for promotional purposes only, not to regulate commerce, and seeks to strengthen economic ties with Israel as a global leader in relevant industries.
LC 739 establishes new requirements for wind turbine generators over 500 feet tall in Montana. It mandates a minimum 1,500-foot setback from occupied residences (unless approved by the property owner) and limits rotor speed to 10% of maximum during deicing if turbines are within 2,500 feet of homes. The bill applies to new projects after January 1, 2026, directly affecting wind energy developers and nearby residential property owners. It also amends Montana's wind energy agreement law (Section 70-17-406) to include these safety and proximity standards.
This is a joint resolution (not a bill) passed by Montana's 69th Legislature urging the U.S. Congress to address a shortage of brucellosis vaccines for livestock. It directly affects Montana livestock producers, particularly in counties with mandatory vaccination requirements, as the only U.S. vaccine producer (Colorado Serum Company) faces production issues and shipping delays. The resolution asks Congress to: (1) expand vaccine availability, (2) fund rapid outbreak response assistance for states, and (3) create grant programs for preventative vaccinations. As a symbolic action, it will be sent to federal officials and Montana's congressional delegation but does not create new law.
This bill creates the Montana Endowment for Early Childhood, a permanent fund earning interest to support early childhood programs. It establishes a seven-member board (including state agency staff and community representatives) to manage funds from a new fee on lapsed child-care facility license renewals, plus donations and other sources. The interest generated is transferred quarterly into a dedicated Montana Early Childhood Account, which funds specific services like workforce development for child-care providers, quality improvements, affordable care expansion, and emergency aid for facilities. These funds cannot be used for other state programs and are allocated solely to early childhood initiatives benefiting families and providers across Montana.
