Healthcare

This resolution urges Congress to amend the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to include Montanans affected by historical nuclear testing. It specifically highlights that 15 Montana counties (including Meagher, Jefferson, and Gallatin) were heavily exposed during U.S. nuclear tests from 1945-1962, as confirmed by a 1997 government study, yet Montanans remain excluded from RECA compensation. The resolution does not create new policy but formally requests Congress to revise RECA to cover these individuals, who may suffer radiation-related illnesses without access to federal aid. It is a procedural resolution, not a bill, and directs Montana’s Secretary of State to send copies to U.S. lawmakers.

HB 41 adds gabapentin to Montana's Schedule V list of controlled substances under the "depressants" category. This change directly affects medical providers who prescribe gabapentin (used for nerve pain, seizures, and other conditions), pharmacists who dispense it, and patients using the medication. The bill amends Montana Code § 50-32-232 to explicitly include gabapentin - identified by its chemical name "1-(aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid" - in Schedule V depressants alongside drugs like pregabalin. This policy update standardizes gabapentin's regulatory classification without altering its medical use or prescribing rules.