Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe

Maddy summaryHB 610 would have removed a requirement for prior approval (preauthorization) under Montana's Medicaid program for specific FDA-approved antipsychotic drugs. These drugs must be recognized in the latest DSM-5 as effective for certain mental health conditions. The bill would have directly affected Medicaid patients needing these medications and their healthcare providers, who would no longer need to seek pre-approval for covered antipsychotics. The law would have applied to claims for services provided after its effective date. (Note: The bill was vetoed by the governor and the veto override failed, so this policy change did not take effect.)

Maddy summaryHB 594 sought to amend state law by clarifying restrictions on the powers of local governments. The bill proposed to prohibit local government units from requiring additional licensing, permitting, or authorization for activities when the state is already the original issuer of such a credential. This measure would have prevented local governments with self-government powers from imposing their own separate requirements on entities or individuals already licensed by the state. The bill died in process.

Maddy summaryHB 702 creates a new crime for operating drones over Montana correctional facilities without permission, punishable by 1-5 years in prison. It revises assault laws to specifically include intentionally making bodily fluid contact with correctional staff, healthcare providers, or emergency responders during arrests, incarceration, or transport. The bill also updates rules for possessing or transferring prohibited items (like cellphones, drugs, or weapons) into prisons, with harsher penalties for weapons (up to 20 years) and drugs (up to 10 years), while adding clarity about notice requirements for minor contraband. These changes directly affect prison staff, inmates, visitors, and anyone near correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 738 revises the procedural requirements for counties to change zoning boundaries or regulations. It mandates that counties must mail detailed notices to residents within affected districts 15-45 days before public hearings, including specific information like district boundaries and where regulations can be viewed online. Notices must also be posted in public places, published in local newspapers, and made available on county websites. This bill directly affects county commissioners, planning boards, and property owners who may be impacted by zoning changes.

Maddy summaryHB 663 prohibits Montana public universities and eligible educational institutions from considering race, color, ethnicity, or national origin in admissions, hiring, scholarships, financial aid, or program participation. The bill bans using applicant or student demographic data for decisions and requires institutions to withhold such information from admissions officers until decisions are final. It creates a private right to sue for violations, including a fixed $4,000 statutory penalty per violation, plus compensatory or punitive damages, and waives state immunity for such cases. The bill, which stalled in committee in May 2025, would have taken effect October 1, 2026, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 93 sought to establish a system for compensating individuals who were wrongly convicted of felony crimes and later exonerated. It would allow eligible claimants, defined as those imprisoned for felonies they did not commit, to file a civil action against the state or county of conviction. To receive compensation, claimants would need to prove their actual innocence by a preponderance of the evidence and waive other legal remedies against the state. The bill also provided for a $5,000 transition assistance grant, expungement of the conviction, and outlined how damages and legal costs would be paid, excluding compensation for crimes that are now legal.

Maddy summaryHJ 54 is a joint resolution requesting Montana's Legislative Council to conduct an interim study on waste-to-energy technologies. The study would examine whether waste-to-energy facilities could supplement Montana's energy resources, analyze economic impacts on citizens and industries, investigate global technologies (like incineration and gasification), and assess environmental/social effects compared to traditional waste management. It requires a final report to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026. This procedural resolution (not a law) died in the House on May 22, 2025, and would not directly affect policy until after the study concludes.

Maddy summaryHB 301 changes when property owners must file claims for damage to their land. It sets the start date for the legal time limit as when the damaging act finishes AND the owner knows or should know about the injury. This means the clock begins running immediately upon these conditions, not later when damage is discovered. If a claim isn't filed within this period, it is permanently barred for both the current owner and all future owners of the property.

Maddy summaryHB 609 sought to establish the criminal offense of "abortion trafficking." It would prohibit any person from purposely or knowingly transporting an unborn child from Montana, either within or outside the state, to obtain an abortion that is illegal under Montana law. Individuals convicted of this offense could face fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. The bill also included a provision allowing penalties to be imposed against the mother of an unborn child for violating this specific trafficking offense, which is an exception to general prohibitions against penalizing women for abortion-related acts.

Maddy summaryHB 131 proposes to revise the duration of unemployment insurance benefits for individuals claiming them. The bill amends Section 39-51-2204, MCA, to change how the total amount of benefits an eligible individual can receive is calculated. It specifically revises the ratio of an individual's total base period earnings relative to their highest quarter of earnings, which determines the number of full weeks of benefit entitlement. These changes would apply to unemployment insurance claims filed on or after July 1, 2025.