Week 4: Legislative Session Update
We're somehow in the fourth week of session, and time is simultaneously moving so slow and so speedy.
Last week we had two hearings around continuing the Medicaid Expansion Program, (HB 245 and HB 230), and there was over 6 hours of proponent testimony! Thank you to the numerous folks who traveled both near and far to pack the room and communicate to the legislature that not only is Medicaid important to the health and well-being of our communities, but Medicaid saves lives!
We're expecting executive action on both of those bills as soon as tomorrow, and will continue to keep you all looped in as to what's next.
For this week ahead, we are continuing to see some significant attacks on the queer and trans community and in the Criminal Legal space. However, we are also seeing some exciting legislation around housing and health care, MICWA, paid sick leave, and more!
Be sure to read more below about the bills we are tracking and how you can take action on the issues you care about.
In Solidarity,
Julia Maxon
Program Director
Take Action
It's going to take all of us to create a Montana where there is justice, safety, and dignity for all. This means that we need YOU to take contact your legislator this legislative session.
Call the capitol switchboard at 406-444-4800
The switchboard is open 7 AM to 5:30 PM M-F
State your name, where you're located, and ask to leave a message Supporting / Opposing the bill you want to leave comment on
There's a new system for leaving message to legislators this year that does require you to create an account. You'll need to go to legmt.gov/participate
Be sure to enter in your email address and press verify to get a confirmation code. Note: you will not be able to proceed forward in the form if you do not complete this first step.
To testify virtually, go to legmt.gov/participate. Like submitting a public comment, you will need to create an account first and verify your email.
You will be able to sign up to testify two hours before the hearing.
In your testimony, be sure to say, "Chair and members of the committee, my name is [insert full name and spell out your last name] and I live in [insert place in MT]. I'm here to SUPPORT / OPPOSE [HB/SB #] for [insert your reason]. Close by saying: [Thank you for your time and please vote YES/ NO on this bill.]
Priority Bills
Key: ✅ Support ❌ Oppose 🔵. Tracking
LGBTQ2S+ Rights
❌ House Bill 121, carried by Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, would effectively ban trans people from using restrooms or public facilities that align with their gender identity. HB 121 has passed the House and has been transmitted over to the Senate side.
House Bill 121 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee this Thursday, January 30th at 8 AM, (Room 303).
❌ House Bill 300, also carried by Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, would effectively ban trans athletes from participating in sports in Montana public schools.
House Bill 300 is scheduled to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee this Friday, January 31st at 8 AM (Room 137).
❌ Senate Bill 164, carried by Sen. John Fuller, would criminalize parents, caregivers, and medical providers who support children in accessing gender-affirming health care.
SB 164 was heard this morning in the Senate Judiciary Committee. We will see executive action on this bill soon, but in the meantime, we urge you to call your Senator and let them know that you oppose SB 164.
Criminal Legal
✅ Senate Bill 70, carried by Sen. Gayle Lammers, allows a probation and parole officer to remove a condition of supervision without a hearing, provided that neither the sentencing court, the probationer, nor the county attorney objects within 14 days of being notified in writing. The fewer conditions that folks under supervision have to meet, the greater their likelihood of sucess, and many folks are under a lot more conditions that are necessary or related to their offense. This bill will make it easier to lift unnecessary conditions and reduce people's likelihood of having their supervision revoked.
Senate Bill 70 will be heard this Wednesday, January 29th at 8 AM in the Senate Judiciary Committee (Room 303).
❌ Senate Bill 19, carried by Sen. Barry Usher, reverses 2017 reforms by raising penalties and reimposing jail time for low-level theft. For example, for theft of property not exceeding $1,500, this bill now allows for both a fine up to $1,500 and up to 6 months in county jail, whereas previous law only allowed a fine. This bill will cause more people committing acts of nonviolent, low-level theft of items as low as $10 in value to end up ensnared in the justice system through incarceration and court debt, leading to additional prison and jail overcrowding and perpetuating ongoing cycles of poverty.
Senate Bill 19 will be heard this Thursday, January 31st at 8 AM in the Senate Judiciary Committee (Room 303).
Housing & Cost of Living
✅ House Bill 277, carried by Rep. Brian Close, provides a minimum lease term for mobile home lot tenancies of two years. It is designed to protect tenants from arbitrary evictions and provide more stability for mobile home owners. Mobile home owners deserve to have some form of stability in their housing, and this bill sets a minimum lease length to give them that stability.
House Bill 277 will be heard this Wednesday, Jan. 29th at 8 AM in the House Judiciary Committee (Room 137).
Healthcare
✅ House Bill 274, carried by Rep. Ed Stafman, establishes a medical respite care program for houseless individuals who are eligible for Medicaid in Montana. The program will provide short-term housing and supportive medical services for houseless people who are too ill to recover on the streets but not sick enough to require hospitalization. The medical respite care will include comprehensive services such as treatment plan development, medication management, immunizations, disease screening, discharge planning, care coordination, social service assistance, transportation to medical appointments, and meal provision.
House Bill 274 will be heard this Thursday, Jan. 30th at 3 PM in the House Human Services Committee (Room 152).
Economic Justice
✅ House Bill 297, carried by Rep. SJ Howell, establishes the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, which requires employers with 10 or more employees to provide paid sick leave to workers. Paid sick leave can be used for personal or family medical care, preventive health services, and situations involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or harassment. The bill protects employees' rights by prohibiting retaliation for using sick leave and ensures confidentiality of health and personal information. The law aims to safeguard public health and support workers' well-being by providing a standardized paid sick leave framework. Workers should not have to worry about their job security or pay check if and when they get sick or a family member they care for gets sick. This is a basic protection and right for the working class.
House Bill 297 will be heard this Friday, January 31st at 8 AM in the House Business and Labor Committee (Room 172).
Indigenous Justice
✅ Senate Bill 147, carried by Sen. Jonathan Windy Boy, will revise Montana's Indian Child Welfare laws and strengthen protections for Indigenous children and their families, aiming to preserve cultural connection during child welfare matters.
Senate Bill 147 was heard this morning in the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Safety Committee this morning.
❌ House Bill 216, carried by Rep. Tracy Sharp, undermines tribal sovereignty by allowing Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to issue hunting licenses on the Flathead Indian Reservation, subverting current processes determined by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe.
House Bill 216 will be heard Tuesday, January 28th at 3 PM in the House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee.
Pro-Democracy & Voting Rights
❌ Senate Bill 52, carried by Sen. Tom McGillvray, would create a new court to handle cases involving certain business disputes, non-local land use issues, and constitutional challenges. This court would have governor-appointed judges which is in stark contrast to other judges in Montana who are voted on by the people. This court would be wasteful and redundant, creating salaries for justices that are 20% more than our current MT Supreme Court justice salaries AND the court would be duplicative in the functions of our current District Courts.
Senate Bill 52 will be heard Tuesday, January 28th at 8 AM in the Senate Judiciary Committee (Room 303).
✅ House Bill 272, carried by Rep. Ed Stafman, provides for keeping the legislative bill drafting files as public records and available to the public. HB 272 would strengthen Montanans' right to know by ensuring citizens can see who is involved in the drafting of Montana law throughout the legislative drafting process.
House Bill 272 will be heard Tuesday, January 28th at 10 AM in the House State Administration Committee.
