Sen. Andrea Olsen

Maddy summarySB 531 would provide Montana residents a refundable state income tax credit for purchasing a firearm safe, up to $300 per tax year. To qualify, the safe must meet strict security standards (e.g., 10,000+ lock combinations, 1/2-inch steel bolts, certified by a nationally recognized lab) and fully contain firearms. The credit directly affects individual taxpayers who buy qualifying safes, with unused credit paid back if their tax liability is less than the claimed amount. The bill aims to encourage safe storage but does not change existing firearm laws. It would apply to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, though it died in committee in 2025.

Maddy summarySB 292 amends Montana's product liability law (Section 27-1-719, MCA) to expand seller liability for both physical and financial losses caused by unreasonably dangerous products. It directly affects consumers who suffer economic harm - such as lost wages or business income - from defective products sold by businesses. The bill requires sellers to be liable for such financial harm if the product was defective when sold, while excluding claims related to COVID-19 (per subsection 3(a)) and preserving seller defenses like product misuse or contributory negligence. This change shifts the law from covering only physical harm to explicitly including economic losses, without altering the core liability framework for defective products.

Maddy summarySB 293 allows individuals (claimants) who have suffered personal injury or wrongful death to request a statement from an insurer about the liability insurance limits of the potentially responsible party *before* filing a lawsuit. Insurers must respond within 45 days, and failure to comply could result in court-imposed sanctions. The requested insurance information cannot be used as evidence in trial, and the request must be made in good faith to avoid misuse. This bill aims to provide transparency about available insurance coverage early in legal proceedings, directly affecting claimants, insurers, and defendants in personal injury cases.

Maddy summarySB 291 amends Montana's workers' compensation law to require the Department of Labor and Industry to annually update its rules defining the value of lodging provided to employees as part of their compensation. The bill specifically changes Section 39-71-123 to mandate that lodging values must be adjusted yearly based on geographic housing costs and other reasonable factors. This affects workers in occupations where housing is part of their wages, such as agricultural or hospitality roles, ensuring the value used for calculating workers' compensation benefits reflects current local housing markets. The change focuses on the administrative process for valuing lodging, not on altering who qualifies for workers' compensation coverage.

Maddy summarySB 290 requires Montana auto insurance policies to include both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, with drivers needing to explicitly reject it in writing. It defines "underinsured" as vehicles with coverage limits below injury damages and mandates that transportation network carriers (like Uber or Lyft) provide specific insurance levels for drivers: $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury coverage when logged on but not driving, and $1 million when transporting riders. The bill ensures carrier insurance covers claims directly without waiting for a driver’s personal policy to deny coverage. It affects all Montana drivers, insurers, and ride-share drivers/carriers by standardizing coverage requirements and clarifying liability responsibilities.

Maddy summarySB 541 creates a 14-member Pollinator Health Task Force in Montana, including representatives from agriculture, conservation, tribes, beekeeping, and state agencies. The task force must develop a state strategy focused on protecting pollinators through research, public education, habitat expansion, and recommendations for agencies and landowners. It requires a final report to the legislature by the 70th session, detailing specific actions like pest management, native plant promotion, and communication plans between beekeepers and pesticide users. The bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund for task force costs during the 2025-2027 biennium and terminates December 31, 2026. This directly affects Montana's agricultural industries, beekeepers, landowners, and conservation efforts reliant on pollinators.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SJ 23) is a joint resolution requesting an interim study on how market-sensitive crops (like genetically modified crops) and agricultural technologies affect Montana's export markets. It directly affects Montana farmers and exporters who face financial losses when foreign markets reject shipments due to crop restrictions or chemical residues. The study will examine export markets, shipping processes, import restrictions, current regulations, and the costs/benefits of these crops and technologies for both conventional and organic producers. The findings must be reported to the 70th Legislature by September 15, 2026. (Note: The resolution died in process on May 23, 2025, and is not active.)

Maddy summarySB 294 requires Montana's public utilities (like electricity providers) to create a detailed plan by May 2026 showing how they will source 100% of their retail electricity from renewable energy (including hydroelectric power) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan must outline specific options, timelines, and challenges for achieving these goals, aligning with Montana's constitutional duty to protect the environment. Utilities must submit these plans to the Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee by June 2026, which will review them, gather public input, and recommend changes to the next legislature. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage but is currently inactive after dying in committee.

Maddy summarySB 295 would restore Montana injured workers' right to choose their own treating physician for initial treatment and ongoing care under workers' compensation, without being forced to use a managed care organization (MCO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) without consent. The bill requires insurers to allow workers to select a physician from a designated list for initial treatment and to change physicians with the insurer's approval (with mediation available if approval is denied). It also mandates that insurers provide individual written notice (not workplace postings) before referring workers to an MCO or PPO. This directly affects injured workers seeking medical treatment for work-related injuries in Montana, giving them more control over their healthcare decisions.

Maddy summaryMontana's SJ 46 is a joint resolution requesting an interim study on food security and agricultural prosperity. It directs a legislative committee to examine food availability, production methods, access challenges, value-added opportunities for local crops, and existing programs like the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The committee must collaborate with stakeholders and report findings to the 70th Legislature by September 2026. This resolution does not enact new policy but aims to inform future decisions on food systems and agriculture.