HB 609 sought to establish the criminal offense of "abortion trafficking." It would prohibit any person from purposely or knowingly transporting an unborn child from Montana, either within or outside the state, to obtain an abortion that is illegal under Montana law. Individuals convicted of this offense could face fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. The bill also included a provision allowing penalties to be imposed against the mother of an unborn child for violating this specific trafficking offense, which is an exception to general prohibitions against penalizing women for abortion-related acts.
HB 199 proposed to modify the composition of the Montana State Board of Medical Examiners. The bill aimed to reduce the number of doctor of medicine members on the board from five to four. Concurrently, it sought to increase the number of physician assistant members from one to two. This adjustment would directly affect the representation of these medical professionals on the 12-member board.
HB 237 would prohibit the placement of certain sentenced defendants in the state forensic mental health facility at Galen. The bill amends existing law to specify that individuals found to have a mental disease, disorder, or developmental disability at the time of their offense, and who are committed for treatment, cannot be placed at the Galen facility. Instead, these defendants could be placed in other appropriate correctional, mental health, residential, or developmental disabilities facilities for their custody, care, and treatment. The director of the department would retain the authority to transfer individuals between these alternative facilities.
HB 273, the "Montana Medical Debt Patient Protection Act," aimed to limit how health care providers and third-party collectors pursue medical debt from patients in Montana. The bill would have prohibited certain collection actions, including wage garnishment, placing liens on a patient's primary residence, and reporting adverse information to credit agencies. It also mandated a 180-day waiting period after the first bill before "extraordinary collection actions," such as filing lawsuits or selling debt, could begin, along with requiring a 30-day notice to the patient. Additionally, it sought to provide patients with an opportunity to appeal insurance decisions before a bill went to collections.
HB 737, titled "Generally revise suicide prevention laws," establishes a voluntary do-not-sell list to aid in suicide prevention for Montana citizens. This bill allows individuals to voluntarily waive their firearm rights by adding themselves to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) indices, restricting them from purchasing firearms. Voluntary waiver forms would be made available by state departments, courts, medical professionals, and local law enforcement.
Individuals can request removal from the list, which typically takes 21 days, or seek expedited removal through a court hearing within two business days. The bill also provides for the confidentiality of waiver documents and prohibits discrimination based on a person's voluntary waiver, while outlining penalties for false statements or coercion.
This bill, HB 540, aims to revise the powers of the Department of Corrections (DOC) by allowing it to contract with private corporations to establish and maintain certain facilities and programs. Specifically, it amends existing law regarding who the DOC can contract with for services like prerelease and treatment centers, residential methamphetamine treatment programs, and residential sexual offender treatment programs. While existing law already allows contracting with private,
HB 555 aimed to revise laws related to chemical abortion, primarily by establishing new conditions for health care providers and responsibilities for drug manufacturers. It would have required health care providers to physically examine patients, be present during a chemical abortion, schedule a follow-up visit, and provide a "catch kit" and "medical waste bag" for proper disposal. The bill also sought to make manufacturers of abortion drugs responsible for the proper disposal of discarded drugs and for mitigating environmental effects of chemical byproducts entering public waste systems. Violations by providers could lead to felony charges, while manufacturers could face fines.
HB 637, titled "Provide for medical aid in dying," establishes a legal framework for adults with a terminal illness to request and self-administer medication to end their lives peacefully. To qualify, an individual must be at least 18, have a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less, and possess the capacity to make medical decisions. The bill outlines specific requirements for prescribing health care providers, including making multiple determinations about the patient's condition and ensuring an informed, voluntary decision. It also provides immunities for health care providers, requires reporting, and establishes criminal penalties for actions like coercion or altering requests.
HB 748 sought to revise the marijuana possession and purchase limits for registered medical marijuana cardholders in Montana. The bill proposed increasing the amount of usable marijuana a cardholder could possess from 1 ounce to 5 ounces. It also aimed to raise both the maximum monthly and daily purchase limits for these cardholders from 1 ounce to 5 ounces. The legislation maintained the existing process for cardholders to petition for an exception to the monthly limit if confirmed by their physician.
HB 500 aimed to revise laws related to chiropractic practitioners in Montana. The bill sought to establish a new license endorsement, allowing chiropractors who obtain it to prescribe certain noncontrolled, nonscheduled drugs like muscle relaxants and NSAIDs for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The Board of Chiropractors would have been responsible for setting the educational qualifications and protocols for this prescriptive authority. Additionally, the bill proposed that chiropractic services be included as part of the Montana Medicaid program.
