Labor & Employment (Workers' Compensation)

signed · Montana · Senate Apr 17, 2025

SB 338: Revise workers' compensation insurance related to who may receive payments

SB 338 authorizes a "benefits administrator" to receive workers' compensation payments on behalf of minor children or individuals deemed incompetent. This expands the list of parties who can receive such payments, which previously included parents, guardians, or conservators. The bill grants the workers' compensation judge the authority to appoint and terminate these benefits administrators. Parties can petition the judge for this appointment without needing to satisfy other dispute resolution requirements first.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands eligibility for workers' comp benefits to include appointed administrators for minors/incompetent individuals, strengthening access to compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Workers' Compensation

signed · Montana · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 143: Revise definition of treating physician to include physician assistants without regard to proximity of other providers

HB 143 revises the definition of "treating physician" within the state's Workers' Compensation Act. This bill expands the definition to explicitly include physician assistants (PAs). A key provision is the removal of any requirement for PAs to be in proximity to other medical providers to qualify as a treating physician for these purposes. This change affects how workers' compensation claims are managed and potentially broadens the types of healthcare providers recognized for injured workers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands recognition of physician assistants as treating providers in workers' compensation, removing proximity barriers to improve access to healthcare services for injured workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation access by including PAs as treating physicians without proximity restrictions, strengthening injured workers' benefit access under Labor & Employment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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signed · Montana · House May 5, 2025

HB 367: Revise workers' compensation laws relating to travel and reimbursement

HB 367 revises Montana's workers' compensation laws, specifically clarifying coverage for employees injured while traveling for work. The bill states that an employer furnishing transportation or reimbursing travel expenses is not the sole factor in determining workers' compensation coverage during travel. Instead, an employee is covered if the travel is necessitated by and on behalf of the employer as an integral part of employment, or if the travel is required by the employer as part of job duties. It also clarifies that certain incentive payments are not considered travel reimbursements for coverage purposes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies workers' comp coverage for work travel, ensuring employees are protected regardless of employer reimbursement practices, strengthening coverage for workplace injuries.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 202: Revise laws regarding receipt of workers' compensation benefits on behalf of others

This bill creates a formal process for appointing a "benefits custodian" to manage workers' compensation payments for minors under 18 or adults legally declared unable to manage their own affairs. It allows any party (like a claimant or insurer) to petition a workers' compensation judge directly for this appointment, without needing to first resolve other payment disputes. The judge would then oversee how benefits are received and distributed on behalf of these vulnerable individuals. This amendment clarifies and expands existing Montana law to ensure proper handling of payments for those who cannot manage them themselves.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFormalizes process to ensure vulnerable workers (minors/incapacitated adults) receive compensation without payment disputes blocking access, strengthening benefit protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 295: Restoring the right for injured worker to choose their own doctor.

SB 295 would restore Montana injured workers' right to choose their own treating physician for initial treatment and ongoing care under workers' compensation, without being forced to use a managed care organization (MCO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) without consent. The bill requires insurers to allow workers to select a physician from a designated list for initial treatment and to change physicians with the insurer's approval (with mediation available if approval is denied). It also mandates that insurers provide individual written notice (not workplace postings) before referring workers to an MCO or PPO. This directly affects injured workers seeking medical treatment for work-related injuries in Montana, giving them more control over their healthcare decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores injured workers' right to choose treating physician, improving healthcare access without insurer-imposed MCO/PPO restrictions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestores injured workers' right to choose physicians under workers' comp, protecting healthcare access and advancing labor rights without forced MCO/PPO use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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vetoed · Montana · Senate Jun 9, 2025

SB 394: Provide for workers' compensation coverage of PTSD for first responders

SB 394 would have expanded Montana's workers' compensation system to cover posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for eligible first responders. It defines "first responder" to include firefighters, law enforcement officers, detention center/prison staff, and emergency care providers, requiring a diagnosis per the latest DSM-5 manual that links PTSD directly to work duties. The bill amended existing laws to allow PTSD claims under workers' compensation, subject to standard procedural requirements. However, this bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 9, 2025, so it did not become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands workers' comp coverage to include PTSD for first responders, directly enhancing mental health care access under healthcare services per bill's explicit coverage expansion.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation benefits for first responders by covering PTSD, directly strengthening workplace health protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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died · Montana · Legislature May 22, 2025

LC 4288: Generally revise independent contractor exemption laws

LC 4288 aimed to revise laws governing independent contractor exemptions, which would have affected workers classified as independent contractors and businesses using such arrangements. The bill sought to update the criteria for determining independent contractor status, potentially altering how workers' rights and business obligations are defined. However, the bill was placed on hold in April 2025 and ultimately died in the drafting process without advancing further. No specific provisions or mechanisms were finalized, as the bill never progressed beyond the draft stage.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill revises independent contractor rules to potentially expand worker protections and rights under Labor & Employment laws, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Workers' Compensation

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 3262: Establishing a portable benefits plan

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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTitle explicitly proposes portable benefits for workers transitioning between jobs, directly expanding employment-related benefits per support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Unemployment Workers' Compensation

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died · Montana · Legislature May 27, 2025

LC 2769: Revise laws for receipt of workers' compensation benefits on behalf of others

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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill clarifies procedures for representatives to receive workers' comp benefits, streamlining access and protecting injured workers' rights under Labor & Employment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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