Rep. Jodee Etchart

Maddy summaryHB 557 would revise Montana education laws to limit how schools can use teacher professional development days. Specifically, it prohibits using "pupil-instruction-related days" (PIR days) for attending state teacher organization meetings, removes the requirement for school boards to close schools for these annual meetings, and changes attendance policies so teachers who skip these meetings may not be paid. The bill directly affects public school teachers, school districts, and the state's education funding structure by altering how professional development time is structured and compensated. These changes would have taken effect July 1, 2025, but the bill died in committee on May 22, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 821 would change Montana's process for constitutional amendments proposed through citizen initiatives. It requires a two-thirds vote of all legislators (not a simple majority) to approve such amendments before they go to voters. This directly affects Montana citizens who submit initiative petitions and legislators who must vote on these proposals. The bill does not change the voter approval threshold (which remains a majority of votes cast), only the legislative step needed to advance the amendment to the ballot. The measure was introduced but ultimately failed to pass in the 2025 legislative session.

Maddy summaryHB 822 proposes changing Montana's constitutional amendment process by raising the voter approval threshold from a simple majority to 60% (three-fifths) of votes cast in a statewide election. This would directly affect Montana voters who would need to approve constitutional amendments submitted via legislative referendum starting with the 2026 election. The bill amends Article XIV, Section 8 of the Montana Constitution to require this higher approval rate, while maintaining the existing two-thirds legislative vote requirement for proposing amendments. The bill died in committee on May 22, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summaryHB 199 proposed to modify the composition of the Montana State Board of Medical Examiners. The bill aimed to reduce the number of doctor of medicine members on the board from five to four. Concurrently, it sought to increase the number of physician assistant members from one to two. This adjustment would directly affect the representation of these medical professionals on the 12-member board.

Maddy summaryHB 771 aimed to revise university housing policies for the Montana University System. It would have prevented universities from requiring students to live on campus if they live with an immediate family member whose principal residence is within a one-hour drive of the campus. Students could be required to submit a form confirming their off-campus residence with a parent, guardian, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or adult sibling. Universities would have had two business days to approve or deny such requests, provided the student met the specified conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 770 revises campaign finance reporting laws for candidates, political committees, and joint fundraising committees. The bill clarifies that candidates must file campaign finance reports even if they have no contributions or expenditures to report. A key provision establishes that failure to comply with these reporting requirements will result in a candidate's name not appearing on the official election ballot. Additionally, it adjusts specific deadlines for when candidates and committees must submit their reports.

Maddy summaryHB 686 revises laws related to physician assistants in Montana. It transitions the licensing and oversight of physician assistants from the Board of Medical Examiners to the Department of Labor and Industry. This change reduces the size of the Board of Medical Examiners. The bill also requires physician assistants with fewer than 8,000 hours of clinical experience to practice under a collaborative agreement with a licensed physician or an experienced physician assistant.

Maddy summaryHB 207 revises election laws for candidates seeking local, state, and special district offices. It requires all candidates to file for office prior to the primary election. A key provision prohibits candidates who are unsuccessful in a primary from seeking the same office in the general election through write-in votes or petitions. The bill also adjusts filing deadlines for candidates and write-in declarations, and increases the signature percentage needed for third-party or independent candidate petitions.

Maddy summaryHB 636 generally revises Montana's marijuana laws, affecting cultivators, manufacturers, and dispensaries, as well as consumers. It introduces new restrictions on edible marijuana products, prohibiting shapes and packaging that appeal to children and setting specific limits on THC content per serving and per package for various product types. The bill also mandates child-resistant packaging for all marijuana products, requiring state approval for packaging and labels. Additionally, it establishes a cumulative fee structure for dispensary licenses based on the number of locations and prohibits the sale of items like hemp flower or alcohol from licensed premises.

Maddy summaryHB 458 revises laws concerning physician assistants and medical malpractice claims. The bill expands the definition of "health care provider" to include physician assistants, affecting their liability in malpractice cases. It also increases the limit on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice claims, raising the initial cap from $250,000 to $300,000. This new limit will then progressively increase each year, reaching $500,000 by 2029 and adjusting annually by 2% thereafter. These changes apply to both future and existing medical malpractice claims.