Rep. Steve Gist

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state grant program to help Montana fire departments purchase safety equipment and improve health and safety conditions for firefighters. The program allows eligible fire departments, companies, or districts to apply for up to $10,000 in grants for items such as personal protective equipment, saunas, shower facilities, and cleaning devices for gear. Funding comes from charitable donations and a $10 nonrefundable application fee paid by each applicant, with priority given to departments with smaller budgets, those in rural areas, and those serving diverse regions of the state. The bill also authorizes the state disaster and emergency services division to administer the program and adopt rules to implement it.

Maddy summaryHB 758 aims to protect health benefit plan enrollees from balance billing for out-of-network ground ambulance services. It prohibits ambulance services from billing enrollees more than their in-network cost-sharing for covered transportation. The bill requires insurers to pay ambulance providers directly, caps out-of-pocket costs for these services at $100, and ensures these costs count towards deductibles. It also mandates that insurers reimburse ambulance services at established local rates or at least 400% of the Medicare rate if no contracted rate exists, and requires the state to create a public database of local ambulance rates.

Maddy summaryHB 742 revises local government nuisance laws in Montana. For county-level community decay complaints, it establishes a new requirement: at least three property owners located within one-fourth of a mile from the property must file a complaint before a county officer can conduct a site inspection. The bill also clarifies the definition of a public nuisance for cities and towns, specifying it as a condition that interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by an entire community or a significant number of persons. This bill affects local governments, property owners, and citizens reporting nuisances.

Maddy summaryHB 243 proposed a new state income tax credit for qualified volunteer emergency first responders. This credit would apply to individuals providing active, uncompensated volunteer service as firefighters, EMTs, auxiliary officers, or search and rescue volunteers. The credit amount would be the lesser of $15 per hour of service or $1,500 annually. If the credit exceeds a taxpayer's liability, the excess amount would be refunded. The bill's stated purpose was to retain existing volunteers and recruit new ones, with an applicability date for income tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 657 would authorize cities and towns to review and approve the design and construction of public water and sewer systems, including extensions or alterations. To gain this authority, a city or town must employ or contract with a licensed professional engineer and establish specific review programs. This bill directly affects municipalities by giving them local oversight capabilities for these infrastructure projects within their jurisdictions. When conducting reviews, cities and towns must ensure compliance with existing state environmental and real property taking laws.

Maddy summaryHB 683 revises conflict of interest laws for construction contracts awarded by local governments, including counties, cities, and towns. The bill prohibits these governments from awarding a construction contract to an entity if it has an ownership or financial interest with a person or entity that participated in the design or engineering of the same project. It defines what constitutes a "financial interest" for these purposes. This measure integrates these new conflict of interest prohibitions into existing competitive bidding rules for various local government and road contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 621 allows local first responder entities, including police departments, sheriff's offices, fire departments, and emergency medical service providers, to establish peer support programs. These programs must have a written policy that outlines qualifications for peer supporters, defines peer support sessions, and ensures confidentiality for participants. The bill prohibits qualified peer supporters from testifying about the content of peer support sessions, with exceptions if an employee has committed or plans a crime, or indicates intent to harm themselves or others.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 620 revises state law concerning contracts that restrict a healthcare provider's ability to practice after leaving an employer or partnership. It expands existing protections, previously applicable to specific behavioral health professionals, to now include licensed physicians of all specialties. The bill amends Section 28-2-724, MCA, ensuring that contracts cannot prevent these medical professionals from practicing, providing services, or establishing patient relationships in any geographic area after their professional relationship ends.

Maddy summaryHB 69 revises the fees for hard rock and rock products mining operations, directly affecting mining companies and small miners. It introduces several new fees, such as an annual administrative fee for small miners, exploration license renewal fees, and various operating and annual permit fees. The bill establishes a "Hard-rock mining permitting program account" to collect these fees, which the Department of Environmental Quality will use for administering and enforcing mining regulations. Additionally, it updates existing requirements for small miners regarding reclamation, bonding, and the use of specific processing methods.

Maddy summaryHB 84 establishes the "Prescribed Fire Manager Certification and Liability Act," which allows the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to create a certification program for individuals conducting prescribed fires. The bill authorizes the DNRC to develop training requirements, fees, and standards for this program. A key provision limits the liability of certified prescribed fire managers and landowners using them for property damage from wildfires that may arise from a prescribed fire, provided they comply with the act and rules. This protection does not apply if negligence or a higher degree of fault is proven. Additionally, the bill requires an official written permit from the recognized agency before any prescribed fire can be ignited.