Labor & Employment

vetoed · Montana · House Jun 16, 2025

HB 901: Create a fire department health and safety grant program

This bill establishes a state grant program to help Montana fire departments purchase safety equipment and improve health and safety conditions for firefighters. The program allows eligible fire departments, companies, or districts to apply for up to $10,000 in grants for items such as personal protective equipment, saunas, shower facilities, and cleaning devices for gear. Funding comes from charitable donations and a $10 nonrefundable application fee paid by each applicant, with priority given to departments with smaller budgets, those in rural areas, and those serving diverse regions of the state. The bill also authorizes the state disaster and emergency services division to administer the program and adopt rules to implement it.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides grants to improve firefighter safety equipment and health conditions, directly supporting workplace safety and worker protection.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 321: Provide tax credits for children and child care

SB 321 proposes three tax credits to support Montana families and child-care providers. It would provide a $1,200 annual credit per child under age 5 for eligible residents (with income limits of $40,000 single/$80,000 married filing jointly), a $1,000 credit for child-care workers employed at least 6 months (20+ hours weekly), and a $2,500 employer credit for businesses offering dependent care assistance. All credits adjust annually for inflation and require filing a Montana tax return. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate-income families, child-care workers, and employers who provide on-site or subsidized care. (Note: The bill died in committee on May 23, 2025, and did not become law.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides targeted tax credits for low/middle-income families and child-care workers, reducing tax burden and supporting essential services per bill's income limits and credit amounts.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides $1,000 annual tax credit for child-care workers (20+ hrs/week), directly increasing income and supporting workforce retention in childcare sector.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 345: Revise workers' compensation laws relating to evidentiary standards

SB 345 would change how medical evidence is evaluated in Montana workers' compensation cases. It removes automatic preference for treating physicians' opinions, requiring courts to weigh medical testimony based on the provider's qualifications, experience with the specific worker, and credibility. The bill also limits discovery about independent medical examiners (IMEs) to their training, exam volume, and payments from insurers, aiming to reduce bias concerns. These changes directly affect workers seeking compensation, insurers requesting medical evaluations, and medical providers involved in these cases. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee before becoming law.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves automatic preference for treating physicians' opinions in workers' comp cases, potentially making it harder for workers to prove claims and weakening their protections under compensation laws.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 640: Revising membership in FURS to include airport authority public safety employees

HB 640 would revise the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System (FURS) to allow certain airport authority employees to participate. The bill defines "public safety officer" as an airport authority employee who serves as both a full-paid firefighter and a sworn peace officer. It would permit airport authorities to elect to join FURS for these public safety officers, who are currently covered by the Public Employees' Retirement System. Existing eligible employees would have 90 days to choose whether to remain in PERS or join FURS.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands retirement benefits access for airport public safety officers by enabling FURS enrollment, directly advancing employment standards for covered workers.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 273: Provide for limitations on collection of medical debt

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patients from aggressive debt collection (wage garnishment, liens, credit reporting), directly improving healthcare access and patient rights as a core healthcare policy indicator.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits wage garnishment for medical debt, protecting workers' earnings from debt collection actions that directly impact income.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 552: Revise worker's compensation law to cover PTSD for first responders and others

HB 552 revises Montana's workers' compensation laws to include coverage for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This bill directly affects first responders, such as firefighters, law enforcement officers, dispatchers, and employees of county detention centers or prisons. For a claim to be compensable, the PTSD must be diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and be caused by events arising out of their employment, excluding personnel-related actions. This creates an exception for first responders' PTSD claims within the state's existing policy that generally excludes stress claims from workers' compensation.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation to cover PTSD for first responders, strengthening mental health protections and benefits under labor laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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died · Montana · House May 20, 2025

HB 635: Revise human rights laws to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs

HB 635 proposes to prohibit state and local government agencies from funding, establishing, or supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. It would prevent these agencies from requiring employees to participate in DEI programs or spending public funds on related services or staff. The bill defines DEI programs as activities that focus on describing power structures, methods to dismantle them, or advancing theories like implicit bias or systemic oppression. However, it includes exceptions for complying with federal law, specific state human rights laws, court orders, and offering sexual harassment training. This legislation directly affects state and local government agencies and their employees in Montana.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill prohibits DEI programs addressing systemic oppression and implicit bias - key components of criminal justice reform. This restricts initiatives to reduce bias in law enforcement and courts, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.80% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits government funding/support for DEI programs addressing workplace discrimination, directly restricting employment equality initiatives under Labor & Employment protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 326: Generally revise laws related to MEDIA Act film tax credits

SB 326 revises Montana's MEDIA Act film tax credits, extending them through 2045 and increasing the aggregate credit limit. The bill provides additional tax credits for production companies that hire veterans and enrolled tribal members. It establishes a fee for unused allocated credits, with these funds directed to a new film industry workforce training account to support workforce development. These changes aim to expand job opportunities and encourage investment in Montana's media manufacturing sector.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends film tax credits through 2045, increases credit limits, adds credits for veteran/tribal hiring, and uses fees to fund workforce training - expanding tax incentives and directing funds for industry development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credits for hiring veterans/tribal members and funds workforce training, directly expanding employment opportunities and supporting labor development.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill provides tax credits for hiring veterans, directly incentivizing veteran employment through legislative funding mechanism.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 197: Revising workers’ compensation laws relating to when the employee is released to return to work

HB 197 revises Montana's workers' compensation law to change when temporary disability payments end for injured workers. It directly affects employees receiving temporary total disability benefits who are cleared by a doctor to return to full work duties. The bill specifies that benefits must terminate on the exact date a worker is released for full duty - rather than continuing until medical treatment concludes (maximum medical improvement) - if the worker is cleared before or at that point. This change, effective immediately upon the governor's signature on April 7, 2025, streamlines benefit termination while requiring physician documentation of medical stability and job suitability before any benefit change.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentTerminates temporary disability benefits on doctor's release date instead of until full recovery, reducing duration of worker compensation protections.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 172: Revise resort tax eligibility and allow use for workforce housing

SB 172 allows Montana resort communities and areas (designated under state law with populations under 3,500 that rely heavily on tourism) to use an additional 1% resort tax - previously restricted to infrastructure - specifically for workforce housing. The bill amends tax code sections to explicitly permit this new allocation, alongside existing infrastructure uses, for communities that qualify under the defined criteria. It does not create new taxes but changes how existing resort tax revenue may be spent, directly affecting designated resort districts and communities. The policy shift aims to address housing needs for local workers in tourism-dependent areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing resort tax revenue to fund workforce housing, expanding public service funding under current tax structure without new taxes.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly redirects existing resort tax revenue to fund workforce housing, advancing affordable housing access for workers in tourism-dependent communities.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly allocates resort tax revenue for workforce housing, addressing housing affordability for tourism workers in qualifying communities, directly supporting labor employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment