Rep. Ron Marshall

Maddy summaryHB 50 protects parents and pregnant women with drug use disorder by preventing child welfare investigations or custody actions solely based on positive drug test results. It amends Montana law to shield individuals seeking treatment or prenatal care from criminal charges related to drug use, and prohibits using drug test results alone to initiate child abuse cases or remove children from homes. The bill directly affects pregnant women, parents, healthcare providers, and child welfare systems by ensuring medical care access isn't penalized. Key provisions include immunity for seeking overdose help and requiring medical evaluation as the primary factor in child welfare decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 494 proposes to revise how Montana allocates its yearly tobacco settlement proceeds, effective July 1, 2025. This bill would change the distribution percentages between two state special revenue accounts. Currently, 32% of the proceeds fund statewide tobacco disease prevention programs, and 17% goes to the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). HB 494 would reverse these allocations, directing 17% to tobacco prevention and 32% to CHIP to secure federal matching funds.

Maddy summaryHB 148 proposes to exempt Social Security benefits from the state income tax in Montana. This bill would revise existing tax laws by amending specific sections of the Montana Code Annotated related to income tax definitions. If passed, it would directly affect individuals in Montana who receive Social Security income by eliminating their state tax liability on those benefits. The bill also specifies a delayed effective date and an applicability date for these changes.

Maddy summaryHB 149 aimed to revise the laws governing alternative nicotine and vapor products, separating their regulations from traditional tobacco products. The bill would have required retailers of these products to obtain an annual state license and pay a fee. It prohibited the sale of alternative nicotine and vapor products to individuals under 18 years of age and mandated that all retail sales occur in locations that restrict entry to those under 18. The proposed legislation also outlined restrictions for vending machine sales and established civil penalties, including fines and license suspensions, for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 296 revises Montana's laws concerning professional and occupational licensing, affecting individuals in various regulated professions and their respective licensing boards. The bill modifies the general disciplinary authority of these boards, which includes powers like license revocation, suspension, and probation. It amends a general provision regarding injunctions for unlicensed practice, replacing it with a statement that no action may be taken against a person in compliance with state adult-use cannabis laws. Additionally, the bill updates specific licensing requirements and clarifies unlawful acts for professions such as optometry, physical therapy, and naturopathy, while maintaining their specific boards' ability to pursue injunctions against unauthorized practice within their fields.

Maddy summaryHB 49 amends Montana's marijuana regulations to specifically prohibit the manufacture and distribution of synthetic cannabinoid products, which are often dangerous imitations of marijuana. The bill updates definitions and prohibitions within the Montana Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (Sections 16-12-101 and others) to explicitly target these synthetic substances. It directly affects businesses or individuals producing or selling synthetic cannabinoid products, making such activities illegal under state law. The key mechanism is strengthening existing prohibitions by adding clear language to ban synthetic cannabinoids, closing a regulatory gap. This law took effect immediately upon the Governor's signature on April 7, 2025.