HB 341 revises how funds are collected and used to support individuals and families, including military service personnel, living with traumatic brain injuries. It changes the existing voluntary donation for traumatic brain injury awareness during motor vehicle registration to an automatic $1 donation, from which individuals can opt out. The collected funds will be used by the Department of Public Health and Human Services for TBI prevention, education, and recovery support, and county treasurers must post notices explaining this automatic donation.
SB 392 establishes the Laverne Parrish Memorial Highway on a section of existing State Highway 93 (mile marker 48 to 51). It directs the Department of Transportation to install signs marking this section and to include the memorial highway on future state maps.
This joint resolution recognizes the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and honors the military service of Montanans who served in that war. It highlights the contributions of over 75,000 Montanans, including specific regiments, women, and Native American service members, as well as homefront efforts.
HB 447 enacts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing licensed respiratory therapists to practice in multiple member states without needing a full license in each. This aims to increase public access to respiratory therapy services and improve workforce mobility, including for military members and their spouses. The compact establishes a "compact privilege" for therapists to practice in other member states while preserving each state's regulatory authority. It also includes provisions for criminal background checks for license applicants.
HB 448 establishes the Jim Loud Thunder Gopher memorial highway on the existing northwest bypass and Vaughn road in Great Falls, Cascade County. It directs the Department of Transportation to install signs and include the memorial highway on future state maps.
HB 307 revises the laws concerning the donation of hunting licenses to disabled veterans and members of the armed forces. It allows current hunting license holders to surrender their licenses for reissuance to eligible disabled veterans or service members, specifically for use on expeditions arranged by qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations focused on rehabilitation. The bill establishes new eligibility requirements for recipients, who must now be Purple Heart recipients with a combat-related injury leading to medical retirement or a 70% or greater disability rating. Additionally, recipients may not have received a donated license under this section in the previous calendar year, but are not required to be residents or pay fees.
HB 244 revises hunting and fishing license provisions for Montana residents serving in the armed forces. It allows eligible members of the National Guard, federal reserve, or active duty who served at least two months outside the state in a contingency operation to receive a free resident conservation license and a fishing or combination sports license for five years, with the option to reset this period after subsequent deployments. The bill also guarantees that service members who forfeited a drawn license due to deployment can receive that same license upon their return without additional cost. The Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will be reimbursed from the state's general fund for the cost of these free licenses.
