Montana Legislative Activity week of March 21st, 2025

The legislature was busy trying to get bills passed through the House and Senate. Many of the bills are coming up for third readings in the House and Senate. There is a myriad number of bills on almost every topic.  There are over 4,000 bills that have been proposed. 

Most of the bills we are tracking did not have second or third reading scheduled.  HB 533 Involving the use of Wildfire Risk Score was referred back to the Senate Business and Labor committee. The hearing was conducted and appears that it will pass.  This bill could be excellent legislation to establish legal guidelines regarding the use of Fire Risk scores and how they are generated.

SB308 is proposing an increase in the maximum monthly workers compensation lost wage payment to $150,000!!  There was a tremendous amount of resistance to this bill by the Montana State Fund and other Workers Compensation carriers.  It was estimated that It could cost $20-24 million in increased payments.  It is likely that this bill is probably dead.  It appears that most of the insurance legislation this year is focused on Workers Compensation rules and regulations.  There has also been a number of bills targeting health insurance and reimbursement rate for providers. 

There are proposals trying to find ways to fund workforce housing in resort or high tourism areas.  Lack of housing has been an impediment to growth in tourism dependent communities.

Here are the latest bills we are tracking

SB290   Status-Tabled-Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal

  A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING LAWS PERTAINING TO UNINSURED MOTOR5 VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE TO ADD UNDERINSURED MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIRING THE INSURED TO ACCEPT OR REJECT UNDERINSURED MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY

SB308  Status- In committee for third reading

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REMOVING THE LIMITATION ON WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO NOT EXCEED THE STATE'S AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE; LIMITING WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO NOT MORE THAN $2,885 A WEEK; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 39-7

SB346: Status-Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS;  REVISING LAWS RELATING TO WHEN BENEFITS MAY BE ORDERED AND PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; PROVIDING THAT PAYMENT OF BENEFITS IS NOT REQUIRED WHEN THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCEPTANCE OF LIABILITY; REVISING LAWS RELATING TO COMPLIANCE WITH MEDICAL  TREATMENT; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 39-71-610, 39-71-615, AND 39-71-1106, MCA.”

SB345 : Status-Senate-Third Reading

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS RELATING TO MEDICAL PROVIDERS; PROVIDING FOR AN EVIDENTIARY STANDARDS FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS; ALLOWING FOR CERTAIN INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS BY THE INSURER;AMENDING SECTION 39-71-605, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.”

HB805 :  Status-Tabled in Committee

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS; REVISING WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAWS RELATING TO CLAIMS; PROHIBITING ALIENS THAT ARE UNLAWFULLY EMPLOYED FROM BEING ELIGIBLE FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION; PROVIDING THAT AN INSURER SHALL CLOSE A CLAIM IN WHICH THE CLAIMANT FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS HAS LEFT THE UNITED STATES OR CERTAIN TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE A CLAIM IS BEING MADE OR ONGOING; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 39-71-118 AND 39-71-4

SB356-Hearing in House

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING INSURANCE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES RELATING 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 TO THE DESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC AUTOMOBILE BODY REPAIR BUSINESSES; PROHIBITING AN INSURER FROM DISREGARDING OR REQUESTING AN AUTOMOBILE BODY REPAIR BUSINESS TO DISREGARD CERTAIN INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER; AMENDING SECTION 33-18-224, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND AN APPLICABILITY DATE.”

HB533  Passed House

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REQUIRING INSURERS THAT USE A WILDFIRE RISK SCORE 5 TO PROVIDE THE REQUESTER WITH CERTAIN INFORMATION TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY; 6 PROVIDING TIMELINES FOR THE INSURER TO RESPOND; AND PROVIDING DEFINITIONS.”

Lobbying services provided by... DL Williams