Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Nov 19, 2024

LC 101: Revise professional licensing laws to correct errata

This bill corrects errors in Montana's professional licensing laws by updating statutory citations for licensed social workers, professional counselors, addiction counselors, marriage and family therapists, and behavioral health peer support specialists. It also amends Section 28-2-724 of the Montana Code Annotated to clarify that employment contracts with these health care providers cannot restrict their ability to practice, treat patients, or solicit patients after leaving a job or partnership. The legislation directs the code commissioner to renumber certain sections into Title 37, Chapter 39 to align with the corrected citations. These changes directly affect the licensing framework for mental health and behavioral health professionals in Montana and ensure their legal protections against restrictive employment agreements are accurately reflected in state law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare providers' ability to practice and treat patients post-employment, preventing restrictive non-compete clauses that could limit patient access to care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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vetoed · Montana · Senate Jul 11, 2025

SB 537: Generally revise marijuana tax laws

SB 537 revises Montana's marijuana tax revenue distribution, directing funds from the marijuana state special revenue account to new and existing state accounts. It requires transferring excess funds annually to specific accounts, including 12% to the HEART account for addiction treatment and mental health programs, 20% to wildlife habitat projects, and 14% to behavioral health initiatives. The bill also allocates funds for law enforcement canine training, sexual assault evidence kits, and homeless shelter support, while modifying existing transfer rules for agencies like the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. These changes apply to all state agencies receiving marijuana tax revenue under Montana law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects marijuana tax revenue to specific public service accounts (12% to addiction treatment, 20% to wildlife, 14% to behavioral health), increasing funding for state programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates 12% to HEART account for addiction treatment and 14% to behavioral health initiatives, directly supporting rehabilitation programs aligned with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 20% of marijuana tax revenue to wildlife habitat projects, directly funding environmental conservation as specified in bill summary.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates 12% to HEART for addiction/mental health and 14% to behavioral health, directly funding healthcare programs under healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy Violent Crime Wildlife Substance Abuse

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 21, 2025

LC 307: Generally revise marijuana tax laws

This bill revises how Montana allocates marijuana tax revenue, directing funds to specific state accounts after covering department operating costs. It requires 10% of excess funds to support addiction treatment programs (HEART account), 20% for wildlife habitat projects, 4% each to state parks/trails, and 31% for law enforcement grants to local police departments. Additional allocations include $300,000 for drug detection canines (ending 2025), 1.5% for sexual assault evidence kits, and 0.25% to homeless shelter support. These changes amend existing tax distribution rules under Montana law, affecting state agencies including wildlife, public health, and law enforcement. The bill does not change marijuana taxation rates but specifies new spending priorities for existing revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirectly allocates marijuana tax revenue to specific public services (10% to addiction treatment, 20% wildlife, 31% law enforcement grants) per statutory mandate, advancing fiscal management of tax funds.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllocates 10% to addiction treatment (HEART account), supporting rehabilitation and criminal justice reform.80% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 20% of marijuana tax revenue to wildlife habitat projects, directly funding environmental conservation under Fish and Wildlife subject.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirectly allocates 10% of excess marijuana tax revenue to addiction treatment programs (HEART account), explicitly funding healthcare services related to substance abuse treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Drug Policy Policing Violent Crime Wildlife Public Health Substance Abuse

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 504: Provide grants for permanent supportive housing facilities

SB 504 proposes creating a $75 million grant program to fund permanent supportive housing projects in Montana. The bill would provide grants to nonprofit organizations for constructing, rehabilitating, or acquiring housing that offers long-term affordable leases (for residents earning 60% or less of the area median income) and onsite support services like mental health care, job assistance, and addiction recovery. It allocates $50 million from the general fund and $25 million from a behavioral health fund, with grants disbursed based on project proposals and adherence to specific conditions, including outcome tracking. The program, administered by the Montana Department of Commerce, aims to directly support homeless or at-risk individuals through housing and integrated services, effective July 1, 2025. (Note: The bill died in process in May 2025 and did not become law.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $50M from general fund and $25M from behavioral health fund for housing grants, directly increasing state spending on public services. This funding initiative strengthens budgetary support for affordable housing programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds housing projects with mandatory onsite mental health services, directly expanding healthcare access for low-income residents through integrated support.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates $75M for permanent supportive housing grants targeting 60% AMI residents with onsite services, directly advancing affordable housing access and supportive housing initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Homelessness

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signed · Montana · House May 19, 2025

HB 867: Revise labor laws relating to the medical assistance program

HB 867 establishes a medical assistance program specifically for licensed chiropractors and veterinarians. This program provides support and monitors rehabilitation for these professionals who are impaired by substance abuse, mental illness, or chronic physical illness. To fund this initiative, the bill allows the respective boards to adjust the license renewal fees for chiropractors and veterinarians. It also updates existing laws concerning the confidentiality and auditing of professional medical assistance programs to include these new licensee groups.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes medical assistance program for impaired chiropractors/vets, funding via license fees to support healthcare workforce well-being and rehabilitation services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2849: Create a special revenue fund for future construction of behavioral health facilities

Bill LC 2849 proposed creating a dedicated state fund to finance future construction of mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities. The bill would have required the state to set aside specific revenue streams for these facilities, directly impacting state budget allocations and the development of behavioral health infrastructure. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 27, 2025, and did not become law. This means the proposed funding mechanism was never implemented.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated revenue fund for behavioral health facilities, advancing public service funding through targeted budget allocation95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates dedicated fund for mental health facility construction, directly funding behavioral health infrastructure under healthcare topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Substance Abuse

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 135: Eliminate termination of chemical dependency voucher program

This bill would have repealed a 2023 law (Section 7, Chapter 187) that was set to terminate Montana's chemical dependency treatment voucher program. It aimed to prevent the program's end by removing the termination provision, ensuring continued funding for individuals seeking substance use disorder treatment. The bill specified immediate effectiveness upon approval but did not become law. It died in the legislative process in May 2025, so the voucher program's termination date remains in effect as originally scheduled under the 2023 law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aimed to prevent termination of substance use disorder treatment funding, protecting mental health care access under healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 397: Revise laws related to privacy in mental health digital service

HB 397 establishes confidentiality standards for mental health digital services. It defines these services as mobile applications or websites that collect, use, or access information related to an individual's mental health or substance use disorder, market themselves as facilitating such services, and use the information for diagnosis, treatment, or management. The bill subjects these services to existing health care information disclosure and confidentiality provisions. It also provides for enforcement and remedies for individuals whose information is disclosed in violation of these standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes confidentiality standards for mental health digital services, protecting patient privacy under existing healthcare confidentiality laws, aligning with patient rights and mental health support.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyHB 397 extends existing health privacy laws to digital mental health services, enforcing confidentiality standards for data handling in technology platforms, thus protecting user privacy.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Digital Government

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 112: Revise laws related to state purchase of opioid antagonists

SB 112 would prohibit Montana state funds (including federal funds) from purchasing opioid reversal drugs after June 30, 2025, from companies involved in opioid settlement agreements. It allows existing contracts for these drugs to continue until fulfillment but bans renewal after the deadline, and requires continued supply under settlement agreements signed before September 1, 2024. The bill directly affects state agencies purchasing opioid reversal medications and pharmaceutical companies that settled opioid-related lawsuits. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill prohibits state funds from purchasing opioid reversal drugs after 2025 from settlement-participating companies, restricting access to life-saving overdose treatment and weakening public health response to opioid crisis.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2661: Establish a recovery residence housing stability services program

Bill LC 2661 aimed to establish a state-funded program providing housing stability services for residents of recovery residences (facilities supporting individuals recovering from substance use or mental health challenges). The bill sought to create specific mechanisms for housing support, including case management and financial assistance, directly affecting recovery residence residents and operators. However, the bill did not advance beyond the drafting stage and died in process on May 27, 2025, meaning no policy changes were enacted. As a result, the proposed program never became law or implemented any services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state-funded housing stability services for recovery residences, directly supporting mental health/substance use treatment access through housing and case management services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds housing stability services (case management/financial aid) for recovery residences, directly supporting housing access for vulnerable populations in need of housing stability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Homelessness

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