This bill requires Montana universities to provide free on-campus parking permits to faculty, staff, and students who are veterans or Montana National Guard service members. The legislation mandates that these individuals receive preference when parking permits are issued and must provide proof of their service to qualify. University presidents are authorized to establish specific rules for implementing these parking benefits at each campus unit. The measure directly affects the Montana University System by modifying parking fee policies for eligible service members.
This bill updates Montana's hunting and fishing license program to provide special benefits for deployed armed service members. It allows veterans and disabled service members with combat-connected injuries to purchase certain deer and antelope licenses at half price, while also offering free resident fishing licenses to active duty members who served at least two months outside the state during a contingency operation. Eligible service members must submit military discharge documentation to claim these benefits, and the state will fund the free licenses through quarterly transfers from the general fund. Additionally, the bill ensures that service members who lose a license due to deployment can reapply for the same license without paying an additional fee upon their return.
This bill enacts the Cosmetology Licensure Compact in Montana, allowing licensed cosmetologists to practice across multiple states with a single multistate license. The compact establishes a shared regulatory framework that includes mandatory criminal background checks for applicants and creates a data system to track license status and disciplinary actions among member states. It aims to support military families relocating by reducing licensing barriers while maintaining public safety standards through information sharing and cooperation between state licensing authorities. The legislation also grants rulemaking authority to the compact commission to define specific requirements and disqualifying events for multistate licensure.
This bill prohibits certain military club and veterans' organization establishments from offering gambling activities in Montana. It specifically targets licensees at state or federal military reservations and posts of nationally chartered veterans' organizations or recognized national fraternal organizations. The law requires these specific licensees to own certain types of alcohol licenses to be eligible for gambling permits, but explicitly removes their eligibility to offer gambling under existing Montana gambling laws. The changes apply immediately upon passage and approval, affecting how these specific venues can operate under current alcohol and gambling regulations.
This bill updates Montana laws to allow hunters to donate their hunting licenses and permits to nonprofit organizations for use by disabled veterans and military service members. The program requires the donated license to be surrendered before the hunting season begins and prohibits donors from specifying which organization or individual receives it. Eligible recipients must be Purple Heart recipients with at least a 70% disability rating from combat wounds, active duty status, or medical retirement, and cannot have received a donated license in the previous year. The donated licenses allow recipients to hunt the same species and in the same areas as the original license without paying fees or obtaining a conservation license.
This bill establishes a grant program to train healthcare providers in nonmedication therapies for treating posttraumatic stress disorder in Montana. The Department of Labor and Industry will administer $600,000 in funding to support a two-year project that certifies providers licensed under state or federal veterans affairs regulations in these therapies. The program will also develop operational procedures, engage in community planning efforts, and track outcomes such as the number of trained providers and patients treated. Eligible expenses include training program licensing, facilitator costs, and travel for staff and trainees, with final reports due to the legislature by July 1, 2026.
This bill confirms the appointment of Richard Klose to the Montana Board of Veterans' Affairs, making him an official member of the state agency that oversees veterans' services. The resolution formally approves the governor's selection, which was submitted in January 2025, and grants Klose a term of office ending on August 1, 2027. By passing this measure, the Senate completes the required legislative step to validate the appointment under Montana state law. Once confirmed, Klose will serve alongside other board members to help guide policies and decisions affecting veterans in the state.
This bill expands Montana's workers' compensation system to cover posttraumatic stress disorder for first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, dispatchers, and prison employees. Under the new provisions, these workers can file claims if a qualified diagnosis confirms their PTSD resulted from an emergency event occurring during their official duties, excluding stress caused by personnel actions like disciplinary measures or job changes. The legislation amends existing state statutes to create an exception to Montana's general rule against compensating mental-mental claims, specifically recognizing the unique risks faced by first responders. Coverage applies to both professional and volunteer responders who act in an official capacity during emergency responses.
This bill establishes the Laverne Parrish Memorial Highway on existing state highway 93 between mile markers 48 and 53 in Montana. It directs the Department of Transportation to install appropriate signs marking the memorial highway and to include it on future state maps. The legislation honors Laverne Parrish, a Medal of Honor recipient who died in 1945 while saving wounded soldiers during World War II. The bill becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval.
This bill creates a grant program in Montana to help local governments and nonprofit organizations expand shelter capacity for homeless individuals. The program provides state matching funds to projects serving seniors, veterans, domestic violence survivors, youth aging out of foster care, and people with mental health or substance use disorders. To receive funding, applicants must submit a detailed collaboration plan and show they have their own matching funds, while the state prioritizes projects that reach diverse communities and fill service gaps. The $2 million appropriation is available for two years starting July 1, 2025, with the department required to report results to the legislature by August 2026.
