It's a wrap

The Montana legislature has gone home until fall 2027. That's the bad news. The good news is that a lot was accomplished during the 2025 session. Here's the recap.

• Health care access protected: Medicaid expansion was renewed, preserving healthcare coverage for over 76,000 Montanans. New laws also cut red tape on life-saving care by limiting prior authorization delays (HB 398, HB 399).

• Stronger schools and childcare: Lawmakers clarified and protected school inflation funding (HB 266, SB 258), expanded rural and tribal teacher programs (HB 340, HB 499), and funded school meals (HB 551). Early math intervention (HB 338) and childcare support for workers (HB 456) were also approved.

• Judicial independence and voting rights preserved: Most efforts to politicize the courts or restrict voter access were defeated. Only one bill (HB 39) made changes, lifting a restriction on political party contributions in judicial races.

• Support for tribal communities: Wins included renewing the Montana Indian Child Welfare Act (SB 147), recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day (SB 224), and backing law enforcement on reservation lands (HJ 1).

• Steps toward housing affordability: A bipartisan win, HB 311 requires landlords to refund unused rental application fees.

This information comes from Montana Megaphone, a service of middleforkmt.org. Sign up for their newsletter so you don't have to keep hearing from us. https://www.middleforkmt.org/sign-up.