Veterans (National Guard & Reserve)

This bill amends Montana law to allow all persons currently or formerly serving in reserve military components to qualify for waivers of certain commercial driver's license tests. Under the new provisions, eligible service members can request exemptions from skills and knowledge tests if they have operated commercial vehicles in their military roles and meet specific safety and driving history requirements. The legislation requires applicants to provide evidence of their military employment, verify they have not had license suspensions or serious traffic violations, and confirm they have not been at fault in any accidents during the relevant time periods. These changes apply to individuals seeking standard, passenger, tank vehicle, or hazardous materials endorsements based on their documented military driving experience.

This bill amends Montana's Military Higher Education Act to clarify definitions of military service terms and strengthen protections for reservists and National Guard members attending college. It requires faculty to provide eligible students at least 15 business days to complete missed coursework when they miss assignments due to inactive duty training or annual training. The legislation also mandates that students returning from active duty within 12 months be readmitted with their previous academic standing, provided they request it. These changes directly affect students in Montana's reserve components and National Guard who need to balance military obligations with higher education requirements.

This bill revises leave policies for Montana public employees who are veterans or serving in state active duty. It requires time spent in state active duty to count toward annual and sick leave accrual, and increases sick leave for veterans with a 100% disability rating from 12 to 15 working days per year. Employees must provide VA verification to qualify for the enhanced sick leave rate. The changes directly affect public employees with military service or state active duty status, ensuring their service time is fully recognized in leave calculations.

HB 708 expands eligibility for Commercial Driver's License (CDL) waivers to include individuals serving or honorably discharged after serving full-time in a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces. It amends state law by redefining "current or former military service member" to specifically include these reserve component members. This allows qualifying service members to apply for a waiver of the CDL skills test, knowledge test, or both. To be granted a waiver, applicants must meet specific criteria related to their military driving experience and maintain a clean driving record.

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.

HB 820, a proposed bill withdrawn on March 1, 2025, would have required Montana University System campuses to provide free on-campus parking permits to veteran and Montana National Guard service member faculty, staff, and students. It mandated that universities not charge parking fees for these individuals, give them preference in permit allocation, and require proof of service to qualify. The bill would have applied directly to eligible individuals at all Montana public universities, with university presidents allowed to establish specific implementation rules. This proposal never became law, as it was withdrawn before final action.