This week's bills (first week of April)

SUPPORT HB 884

HB 884: Establish a behavioral health trust fund

Where: House Human Services, Rm 152

When: Tuesday, April 1 at 3 pm

This bill would create a Montana behavioral health trust fund to invest in community-based behavioral health organizations.

• Investing to improve behavioral health is a bipartisan goal this session.

• This bill would make long-term, sustainable funds available for addressing behavioral health challenges in Montana beyond the legislative session.

• Montana is a national leader in suicide rates and many residents struggle to access care. This funding would help strengthen behavioral health infrastructure in Montana.

SUPPORT HB 884

SUPPORT HB 885

HB 885: Generally revise Medicaid laws to improve customer service

Where: House Human Services, Rm 152

When: Tuesday, April 1 at 3 pm

This bill would make improvements to the accessibility of Medicaid. It would improve access for people using mobile devices, require more meaningful notice, provide estimated wait time and call back options, and reopen offices of public assistance.

• Have you experienced challenges with customer service? Lost coverage during unwinding? Share your personal experiences interacting with Montana’s Medicaid program.

• During Medicaid unwinding, many individuals who were eligible for coverage lost it due to bureaucratic inefficiencies. Some people did not receive mailed notices due to address changes, others waited on the hotline for hours without getting through.

• Bureaucratic hurdles should not stop Montanan’s from receiving healthcare coverage, and this bill makes sure that they won’t.

SUPPORT HB 885

Take action to strengthen the passenger rail infrastructure in Montana. HB 848 passed out of the House Transportation Committee on Friday and expected to be on the House Floor later this week. Contact your representative and ask them to support HB 848 on second reading.

VOTE YES ON HB 848

HB 848: Provide funding for regional rail authorities

HB 848 would invest resources to help expand passenger rail in Montana, particularly on the southern tier connecting our most populous cities.

• This infrastructure investment could make it easier for people to travel across Montana.

• Passenger rail would provide another means for people to access resources and services in communities across the state.

• In committee, this bill received support from communities across the state. Labor, local governments, Tribal representatives, business owners, and the tourism industry showed up in support of HB 848 and the economic development it would bring.

SUPPORT HB 848

This all from Anja Wookey-Huffman

Legislative Organizer, Montana House Democrats

anja.wookey-huffman@legmt.gov

(406) 551-6450

For more information, see our site: https://www.lincolncountydemocratsmt.org/our-government