Bill LC 1580, titled "Expand child labor laws to include digital labor practices," proposed to update existing child labor regulations to cover digital work performed by minors, such as creating social media content, participating in online gigs, or engaging in digital content creation. The bill would have required businesses and platforms employing minors in digital work to comply with age restrictions and hour limits similar to traditional child labor laws. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 26, 2025, and did not become law, so no policy changes were implemented.
This bill (LC 1606) proposed requiring Montana employers to provide paid sick leave to employees. It would have directly affected workers in Montana by mandating that employers offer a minimum number of paid sick days per year for health needs or other qualifying reasons. The key provision would have required businesses above a certain size to establish this benefit, though specific details like the number of days or eligibility thresholds weren't provided in the available context. The bill was drafted in 2024 but was placed on hold and ultimately died in the legislative process in May 2025, meaning it never became law.
This bill (LC 3262) titled "Establishing a portable benefits plan" was introduced but never advanced beyond the drafting stage. It was assigned a drafter in December 2024, moved through several holds, and ultimately "died in process" on May 27, 2025. The provided context does not include the bill's specific provisions, target beneficiaries, or mechanisms, so no substantive summary can be generated. The bill's title suggests it aimed to create a system for workers to carry benefits between jobs, but no details on how this would function are available.
Bill LC 2769, titled "Revise laws for receipt of workers' compensation benefits on behalf of others," aimed to update procedures allowing representatives (such as family members or legal guardians) to receive workers' compensation benefits for injured workers. The bill sought to clarify who could legally act on behalf of an injured worker and streamline the process for benefit distribution. However, the bill did not advance beyond the drafting stage and was officially "dead" as of May 27, 2025. Without further details on its specific provisions, the exact policy changes remain unspecified. This bill would have directly affected injured workers and their designated representatives in the workers' compensation system.
This bill (LC 2923) aimed to increase maximum work hours for minors under current labor laws. It would have directly affected minor workers (typically under 18) and their employers by relaxing existing hour restrictions. The bill was drafted but never advanced beyond the initial stages, as it was placed on hold and later died in the legislative process. No specific hour limits or exceptions were detailed in the provided context. The bill did not become law.
SB 376, the "Worker Freedom Act," prohibits employers from requiring employees to join a union or pay dues as a condition of employment. It mandates written employee authorization for union dues deductions (with 30-day revocation rights), requires employers to post a notice about union choice rights, and imposes fines for violations. The bill directly affects all Montana employees, except federal workers, railroad employees, and those under federal labor law. It amended Montana law to align with these protections but died in committee in May 2025 without becoming law.
SB 308 would remove Montana's current limit on workers' compensation benefits that capped payments at the state's average weekly wage. Instead, it would establish a fixed maximum benefit of $2,885 per week for all eligible injured workers. This change would directly affect higher-earning workers who previously received reduced benefits due to the wage-based cap. The bill amends specific sections of Montana's workers' compensation code to implement this fixed maximum payment structure.
HB 812 aimed to revise state unemployment laws specifically concerning nonprofessional employees of educational institutions. Currently, employees in educational settings are generally denied unemployment benefits between academic terms if they have a reasonable assurance of returning to work. This bill proposed to allow nonprofessional employees of educational institutions to claim unemployment benefits during these interim periods, in alignment with federal law. The change would have enabled these specific workers to receive unemployment compensation during breaks when they might otherwise be ineligible.
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.
SB 515 would create a multistate cosmetology licensure compact, allowing licensed cosmetologists to practice in participating states using a single license instead of obtaining separate licenses in each state. It requires criminal background checks for all applicants and establishes uniform standards for licensure, including shared disciplinary records between states to maintain safety. The bill specifically aims to reduce licensing barriers for cosmetologists relocating due to military service or family moves. This program would replace individual state licenses with a single multistate license valid across all compact member states.
