Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 316: Revising disability retirement provisions for MPORS and FURS

SB 316 revises disability retirement benefit provisions for members of the Municipal Police Officers' Retirement System (MPORS) and the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System (FURS). It specifies that disability retirement benefits for these members will remain disability benefits, rather than converting to service retirement, once they reach normal retirement age, and will no longer require medical examinations. The bill also clarifies the calculation of line-of-duty disability benefits based on years of service. These changes apply retroactively to MPORS and FURS members who became disabled in the line of duty on or before January 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies disability retirement benefits remain secure without medical exams for police/firefighters, protecting their employment-related retirement benefits.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 823: Revise laws relating to the state plan committee

HB 823 revises the State Plan Committee, which oversees career and technical education in Montana. It expands the committee by adding three new members appointed by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry, representing the state workforce innovation board, business, and labor communities. The bill also coordinates the committee's meetings with the Montana State Workforce Innovation Board and requires its state plan to align with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act combined state plan.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds labor community representatives to workforce committee, aligning with federal labor frameworks to strengthen worker input in education planning.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · House May 13, 2025

HB 543: Repeal termination date on reporting and disclosure of violence against health care employees

HB 543 repeals the termination date for laws requiring the reporting and disclosure of violence against healthcare employees. Previously, these reporting requirements were set to expire on a specific date. By repealing that sunset clause, this bill makes the reporting and disclosure obligations permanent. This ensures that information about violence affecting healthcare workers will continue to be collected and shared indefinitely.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals sunset clause for violence reporting against healthcare workers, ensuring permanent safety data collection to protect staff and maintain healthcare service integrity.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals sunset clause on violence reporting, ensuring ongoing workplace safety protections for healthcare workers under Labor & Employment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 56: Supplemental employer contribution for PERS, HPORS, SRS, GWPORS

This bill revises and expands supplemental employer contributions to several state retirement systems, directly impacting state and local government employers and the retirement funds for their employees. For the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), it extends the schedule of increasing supplemental employer contributions through fiscal year 2035 and then sets a higher rate. Additionally, the bill introduces new supplemental employer contribution rates for the Highway Patrol Officers' Retirement System, the Sheriffs' Retirement System, and the Game Wardens' and Peace Officers' Retirement System. These new contributions are intended to help address unfunded liabilities and cover the normal cost of benefits for these specific systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases state employer contributions to retirement systems, directly funding public employee benefits through enhanced government spending on essential programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands supplemental employer retirement contributions for state employees, directly increasing retirement benefits and strengthening employee compensation standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

vetoed · Montana · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 7: Repeal of retirement criteria change for HPORS and SRS

SB 7 revised the retirement eligibility criteria for members of the Highway Patrol Officers' Retirement System (HPORS) and the Sheriffs' Retirement System (SRS). It removed the requirement for members hired on or after July 1, 2023, to reach age 50 in addition to completing 20 years of service to be eligible for retirement benefits. This change would allow all members, regardless of hire date, to qualify for service retirement after 20 years of membership service. The bill was intended to apply retroactively to those hired on or after July 1, 2023, and take immediate effect.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves age 50 barrier for retirement after 20 years, expanding retirement benefits for public safety employees without restricting eligibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 349: Revise TRS laws related to reemployment

HB 349 establishes a temporary program allowing certain retired members of the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) to return to full-time work for the Superintendent of Public Instruction without losing their retirement benefits. To be eligible, retired teachers must have been receiving benefits for at least two months, have 27 or more years of service, and the Superintendent must certify an inability to find a non-retired qualified applicant for the position. These reemployed retirees can work for a maximum of five years and are exempt from standard earnings limits for retirees. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, as the employer, is required to make contributions to the TRS for these individuals. This act is effective immediately and terminates on June 30, 2031.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables experienced retired teachers to return to K-12 roles without losing benefits, supporting educator retention and school staffing needs.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows eligible retired teachers to return to full-time work without losing retirement benefits, expanding access to employment while preserving worker benefits.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · House May 8, 2025

HB 358: Generally revise pension laws related to the Volunteer Firefighters' Compensation Act

HB 358 revises the pension benefits for eligible volunteer firefighters under the Volunteer Firefighters' Compensation Act. The bill increases the full monthly pension benefit from $175 to $200. It maintains the calculation for partial pension benefits based on years of service and includes provisions for additional increases for those who serve beyond 20 years, with further conditional increases for service beyond 30 years if the pension fund is actuarially sound. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases pension benefits for volunteer firefighters (from $175 to $200), expanding worker benefits. Directly strengthens employment standard (pension) for a specific worker group.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 336: Provide for apprenticeship programs for certain license types

HB 336 establishes an alternative pathway for individuals to obtain professional licenses in various occupations through apprenticeship programs. It requires state boards and programs to grant licenses to applicants who successfully complete a nationally recognized apprenticeship in their field. This applies to a wide range of professions, including barbers, cosmetologists, addiction counselors, licensed practical nurses, plumbers, and electricians. Applicants pursuing licensure via an apprenticeship must still meet the same examination and fee requirements as those who complete traditional educational programs.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes apprenticeship pathway for professional licenses, expanding workforce access to regulated professions and advancing employment standards under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 128: Protect volunteer emergency service providers from termination

HB 128 protects volunteer emergency service providers, such as firefighters and EMTs, from being terminated by their public or private employers. It prohibits employers from firing an employee solely for serving as a volunteer emergency provider, provided the employee notifies their employer of their volunteer status. If an employee is absent or late to work due to volunteer emergency service, they must notify their employer as soon as possible, and employers may request documentation of the emergency response. The bill clarifies that employees cannot claim regular pay for time spent on volunteer duties, and employers retain the right to determine if an employee can leave work to respond to an emergency. Employees whose employment is terminated in violation of these provisions may bring a civil action for remedies like reinstatement and back wages.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents termination for volunteer emergency service, directly protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment protections as stated in bill summary.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